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Flights and Trains Halt as Storm Batters Beijing

Strong winds have caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights and halted train operations across Beijing and northern China.
By 11:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday, authorities had cancelled 838 flights at Beijing’s two primary airports.
Wind gusts reached up to 93 mph (150 kph), marking the strongest storm the capital has seen in over 50 years.
The violent gusts led to the closure of popular tourist sites and historical landmarks across the city.
Officials urged millions of residents to remain indoors as dangerous conditions continued to unfold.

Authorities Warn of Life-Threatening Wind Gusts

Local media warned individuals weighing under 50kg that strong gusts could physically lift them off the ground.
The government shut down several parks and reinforced or trimmed aged trees to limit damage.
Despite precautions, nearly 300 trees collapsed across Beijing due to the severe wind pressure.
Authorities suspended high-speed rail services and the express subway line connecting to the airport.
Some vehicles sustained damage during the storm, but officials reported no injuries.
Following government advice, most of the city’s 22 million residents stayed home to remain safe.
A resident described the mood in the city as tense and said the empty streets felt eerie.
She also noted that the actual impact seemed slightly less dramatic than anticipated.

Business Travel and Daily Life Disrupted

A businessman from Zhejiang province reported that all flights scheduled for Friday night and Saturday were cancelled.
He explained that the cancellations left him stuck in Beijing and that he planned to reschedule within a few days.
Meteorologists confirmed that the winds originated from a cold air vortex over Mongolia.
These gusts carried sand and dust, a common spring phenomenon that experts say is worsening due to climate change.
The city issued its first orange wind alert in ten years, anticipating the storm to peak on Saturday.

Meteorological Office Predicts Ongoing Danger

China uses a 17-point scale to measure wind intensity, and this storm ranges between level 11 and 13.
According to the national meteorological agency, level 11 winds cause “serious damage” and level 12 winds inflict “extreme destruction.”
Forecasts suggest that weather conditions will gradually improve by Sunday, though risks remain until then.