Days of continuous snowfall has hit northwestern and eastern China, causing roadblocks and travel chaos.

Temperatures dropped to -25 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Heavy snow has been falling on and off in Xinjiang since December 20 and snow accumulated to over one meter in some parts.

In Urumqi, the capital of China's northwest Xinjiang province, snow ploughs cleared the way for drivers, many of whom were immobilised for hours by the snow, state media said.

In the eastern province of Shandong, the local government sent out a fleet of snow ploughs and salt trucks to clear and melt some of the snow that had accumulated on roadways.

According to forecast from the National Meteorological Centre, a new cold wave will affect most of north and northwest China in the next three days.

The cold spell has caused concern that China might see a repeat of the extreme weather of early 2008 that killed 129 people, left millions stranded and brought the country to a standstill during the Lunar New Year celebrations.