Hundreds of flights were cancelled and trains were suspended on Saturday as Garh hit Beijing and northern North China.
By 11:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday, 838 flights had been cancelled at two major airports in the capital, according to Reuters News Agency.
For over half a century, the strongest 93mph (150kph) wind gust of winds in China’s capital is expected to last until the weekend, enforcing the closure of attractions and historic sites.
Millions have been urged to stay indoors on Friday, with some state media warning that people weighing under 50kg could be “easy to blow away.”
Train services, including airport expressway lines and highway rail lines, are hung. The park has also been closed, with some old trees being strengthened or trimmed in preparation, but 300 trees have already fallen in the capital.
Many vehicles were damaged, but no injuries were reported – in Beijing, most residents followed the advice of authorities after the city warned 22 million residents to avoid non-essential travel.
“Everyone in Beijing was really nervous. Few people are on the streets today, but it wasn’t as serious as I imagined,” a local told Reuters.
A businessman from Zhijiang province had cancelled his flight.
“Because of the intense winds, all flights were cancelled last night and today, so I’ll probably rebook my flights in a few days. I’m basically left behind in Beijing,” he said.
The strong winds are coming from Mongolia’s cold vortex system and are expected to last until the weekend.
Beijing issued its first orange alert for strong winds in 10 years with the strongest expected winds on Saturday.
China measures wind speeds on a scale from level 1 to 17 to 17. According to the Chinese Weather Service, level 11 winds can cause “severe damage,” while level 12 winds can cause “extreme destruction.”
Winds this weekend range from levels 11 to 13, and conditions are expected to be easier by Sunday.
