Bilis, the fourth tropical storm to hit China this year, left the city yesterday morning, according to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

While the storm did not bring the heavy rainstorms to the city that were expected, it did bring winds reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour that were blamed for some troubles in the city.

Under Bilis' influence, about 120 flights were suspended on Friday at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. Flight schedules didn't return to normal until Saturday afternoon.

Passenger liners running between the Luchao Port and Dinghai and Putuo Mountain were suspended on Saturday with service expected to resume today.

A Russian ship was stranded in the sea near Zhejiang Province on Friday as Tropical Storm Bilis continued to churn up heavy waves along China's coast. All the sailors onboard were rescued by passing ships on Friday and Saturday.

The hot weather is expected to return to Shanghai after Bilis leaves.

(Shanghai Daily July 17, 2006)