Around China: Unusual heavy snow overwhelms northern grassland

HOHHOT, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snow has been battering Xilin Gol grassland in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, causing anguish for more than eight million farmers and herdsmen.

Since the beginning of November, the region has been hit with heavy snowfall on six occasions, with the average precipitation reaching 24 millimeters, a record high since 1961.

The average precipitation of the central and eastern part of the region, including Xilin Gol League is more than twice for the same period in recent years, according to the local meteorological observatory.

The extreme weather has left part of Xilin Gol grassland suffering from a snow disaster that is called the "iron disaster" by local herdsmen.

The "iron disaster" is when the low temperature makes the melted snow on the ground crystalize into ice which is then covered by more snow.

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