Heavy snow remains in north China

Heavy snow has hit many parts of north China, causing deadly traffic accidents and highway closures. Tens of thousands of passengers have stranded at major airports.

Pedestrians trudge through the snow in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Nov. 12, 2009. Snowfall continued in most parts of north and northwest China on Thursday.(Xinhua/Wang Song)

In Beijing, light snow started to fall early Thursday morning. It's already the third snowfall in the capital this winter and residents are well-prepared.

It was a different story in nearby Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province on Tuesday.

Three persons were killed, 68 vegetable greenhouses collapsed and more than 20 warehouses and factory buildings collapsed.

Weather officials say the city recorded almost half a meter of precipitation in the hardest hit areas.

It's the heaviest snowfall in the city in 54 years, when record keeping started.

Highways were closed and schools were asked to suspended classes on Wednesday.

Dozens of snow blowing machines managed to clear major roads by Wednesday night.