Beijing's skies went berserk on Saturday, April 12, 2025, as raging gusts swept through China's capital, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding passengers. By noon, more than 800 flights were canceled at Beijing's two main airports—Capital International and Daxing—bogged down in gusts reaching speeds of up to 93 miles per hour, some of the fastest the city has experienced in more than 50 years.
It wasn’t just planes; trains, including the airport’s express subway and high-speed rail lines, hit the brakes too, turning travel plans into a waiting game for thousands.
The winds, whipped up by a cold vortex rolling in from Mongolia, didn’t just mess with schedules—they brought the city to a near standstill. Authorities told Beijing’s 22 million residents to stay indoors, with state media half-jokingly warning that anyone under 110 pounds might get “blown away.” Parks shut down, and iconic spots like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and even Universal Studios Beijing bolted their gates. Nearly 300 trees toppled across the city, smashing into cars and clogging streets, though no injuries were reported by Saturday evening.
“It’s eerie out there,” one local, Wei Chen, told me through a friend. “Hardly anyone’s on the roads. It feels like the city’s holding its breath.”
For travelers, it was frustration city. Li Jun, a businessman from Zhejiang, was supposed to fly home Saturday but found himself stranded. “They canceled everything—last night, today, probably tomorrow too,” he said. “I’m just sitting in a hotel, hoping I can get out in a couple of days.”
Airports were packed with people like him, scrolling for updates or rebooking flights, while others gave up and hunkered down. Social media lit up with complaints, though some locals showed heart, urging people not to order food delivery so workers wouldn’t have to brave the gale.
The China Meteorological Administration had seen this coming, issuing an orange alert—the second-highest level—for the first time in a decade. Winds hit levels 11 to 13 on China’s 1-to-17 scale, strong enough to cause “serious damage” or worse. Sand and dust from Mongolia’s deserts swept in too, a springtime norm for northern China, but climate experts say these storms are getting nastier, fueled by a warming planet. Temperatures in Beijing plummeted over 12 degrees Celsius in a single day, adding a bitter chill to the chaos.
Beyond Beijing, the winds shook things up across northern China. Inner Mongolia saw late snow, while southern provinces got pelted with hail. Shanghai braced for sandstorms by Sunday, and eight provinces reported crippled road travel. A half-marathon in Beijing, set to show off China’s tech with robots racing alongside humans, got pushed back. Even football matches and outdoor events were called off, leaving fans disappointed but safe.
For now, the worst is expected to ease by Sunday, though gusts could linger. Airports are slowly sorting out the backlog, but delays are piling up. If you’re planning to fly in or out of Beijing soon, check your flight status early—things might still be bumpy. And if you’re in the city, maybe take the advice locals are sharing online.