国内英语新闻:Authorities warn bad weather as tourists make returning trips

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities should take measures to guard against traffic accidents as snow and rainfalls are expected to hit most parts of the country's southern regions, affecting millions that were making their returning trips, the National Holiday Tourism Office said Friday.

Traffic flow on China's railways received the first returning peak on Friday, the sixth day of the week-long Spring Festival holiday. Long-distance trips are showing signs of cooling while short-distance tours are still popular, said the office.

Though the holiday is nearing its end, scenic spots across the country still saw increasing visitors. Sightseers to Shanghai's Oriental Pearl rose 6 percent year-on-year on Friday while those to the World Financial Center observatory rose 16.7 percent, data from the office showed.

China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Friday that most parts of south China will see precipitation from Jan. 27 to 30, while light snow or fleets will hit the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The office asked relevant authorities to step up preventive measures to brace for the bad weather to ensure safety for the tourists.

The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on Jan. 23 this year, is traditionally a time for family reunions in the nation.