News
Chaos in China as snow storms close factories
Carlton Reid Jan 29 2008, 10:07am
Comments (2)
Worst weather in 50 years cripples China, bike factories included
500,000 people - many of them migrant workers - are stuck outside Guangzhou railway station, stranded because of snow storms. Tens of millions of other travellers are unable to get home for Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday of the year.
Highways have been blocked, with 20,000 vehicles stranded on one expressway, reported Chinese news agency Xinhua.
The snowstorms started in mid-January and have now affected 80 million people across fourteen provinces.
Southern China is worst hit by the storms, including the Guangdong province, China's most important manufacturing region, home to the Chinese bicycle industry.
An industry source said: "Heavy snow has meant the closure of bike factories. Local businesses have suffered roof collapses as 12" of snow has fallen. There are also component vendors that have been affected, which we are still gathering more details on. There are power outages due to downed lines. In addition, local governments are closing highways, due to lack of snow removal equipment.
"Bottom line is that factories are temporarily shut down, or have reduced production capacity."
Comments
“snow in Guangzhou”
Posted by: jctdesign - Feb 1, 2:22pm
It is amazing that the snow storms are as far south as Gaungzhou. I have been there several times in the winter when the weather was warm enough for short sleeves. I am sure they are not used to these conditions.
“Re: snow in Guangzhou”
Posted by: gobike - Feb 8, 1:45pm
The snow is in the north mountain part of Guangdong not Gaungzhou Its still cold and you have to wear a jacket in the morning in Shenzhen but afternoons better, Its holliday time anyway which is the reason for the hold ups but they say the rails back to normal. Until everone comes back your suppliers will just put the prices up anyway :-) Happy New Year I get two.