The rumours have been flying; after our scorching summer, this winter in Nanjing will also be setting records, at the other end of the mercury. Whether or not that comes to be, Nanjing is planning on being ready, just in case.
With temperatures this afternoon in Nanjing breaking 20 degrees, it may be hard to believe that we are now into the fortnight known as “Minor Snow” (小雪) that is the 20th of the 24 Chinese Solar Terms (节气).
But local authorities seem to have their eye on that transition, deciding now is the time to prepare for the worst.
As such, the time was right yesterday, 23 November, for Nanjing Urban Management Bureau and Qinhuai District Urban Management Bureau to hold a “snow sweeping and antifreeze” exercise to show off their new toys to reporters.
And some of the machines that they today have at there disposal are downright fancy. Gone are the days of the good old snowplow and salt spreader; Nanjing has gone high tech in its antifreeze efforts.
Nanjing’s weapons in the war on winter this year include those being called comprehensive snow removal vehicles, light snow removal vehicles, manually-propelled snow sweepers and salt spreaders, as well as traditional snowplows and much more.
All in, Nanjing now has nearly 700 snow and antifreeze teams in place, comprising over 30,000 people. In addition, more than 150,000 shovels and brooms stand by, together with over 600,000 anti-slip mats, to ensure the safe travel of citizens.
Qinhuai District alone has a salt reserve of 300 tons, reports the Yangtze Evening News. That particular district of Nanjing also has in place a snow-clearing policy based on priority; overpasses first, followed by primary roads, secondary roads, steep roads and so on.
On 14 November, Nanjing Snow and Antifreeze Command held the city’s 2022-2023 Snow & Antifreeze Conference, focusing on the characteristics of climate change this winter and next spring. The Conference delivered reminders to attending delegates to ensure the life and property of citizens and their safe travel, and to achieve the public expectation of “no overnight snow” in Nanjing.
While that might be a little overly optimistic, all this preparation is nevertheless most commendable. But it all begs the question, do they know something we don’t?
