Beijing was blanketed in its first snow this winter Thursday night, while the city's emergency snow plan was set up.

According to the plan, the meteorological department will offer 24-hour service to the emergency communication direction department.

Beijing Communication Committee urged relevant departments to remove snow within 6 hours from the city's roads.

A total of 108 snow removers have been awaiting orders to go into operation.

The number of patrolling traffic police will rise from 600 to more than 1,000, in a bid to deal with any traffic jams because of snow.

In December 2001, a big snowfall brought the whole traffic system to a total standstill.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2003)