Twenty-three flights at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport were delayed as a result of a heavy fog early Thursday morning, officials said.

The heavy fog which began at 3:00 early Thursday morning left the the visibility at the airport less than 200 meters, 300 meters less than the standard for safe take off.

The visibility reached the standard for safe taking off at about 10:10 am and the airport was back to normal after 2:00 Thursday afternoon.

(Zhejiang Online December 5, 2003)