Early snow in north as southeast braces for typhoon

The city of Datong in North China's Shanxi province received its first snowfall of the season on Tuesday, the start of the weeklong National Day holiday. While the snow caught residents by surprise and travelers off guard, milder conditions can be expected for the remainder of the break, forecasters said.

"The snow was unexpected! I was stunned when I captured the beautiful view with my camera," said Yu Zhandong, a photographer and native of Datong, who added that the city usually sees its first snowfall around November.

The city, which saw the mercury plummet to 0.3 C on Tuesday morning, has been a sought-after tourism destination for the National Day holiday, which runs until Oct 7.