Dense fog shrouds huge swathes of China on Friday - disrupting traffic and causing chaos for thousands.

State TV channel CCTV said visibility in some areas was down to less than 20 meters - and less than 5 meters in areas particularly badly hit.

The thick fog also shut down this highway in Jiangsu province, leaving some 1,000 vehicles waiting at the toll gate.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded in this airport when a round of freezing fog enveloped the area and grounded hundreds of flights.

China's Ministry of Transport said many highways were temporarily closed across several provinces, including capital Beijing, due to the dense fog.