Travel in city Wuhan

Snow and freezing rain in China were disrupting travel on Monday and had already caused hundreds of rail and flight cancellations, as millions of people traveled across the country before lunar new year holiday begins this weekend.

They hang upside down, slide into canals, roll down hills, or act as mobile nightclubs, but in the end the world’s most unique modes of public transport get commuters where they need to go. From sleds to tricycles to toboggans, many of these vehicles have become national icons, beloved by locals and enjoyed by tourists.

Searches on Chinese travel sites surged and social media platforms were flooded with delight and relief on Wednesday as the public cheered the biggest loosening of some of the world’s strictest Covid policies.

Last week, I wrote about my upcoming round-the-world trip, which I had been planning for several months (here’s the story). My friends and family were concerned about me going to Asia amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Of course, I had some concerns, too. After asking for answers to the question “Should I cancel my trip to Asia?” on both my website and my Facebook page, I was shocked by how many people said that I should cancel. Some of the comments were coming from big-time travelers, including executives of Asian airlines.

In the heat of summer there’s nothing sweeter than a frozen treat. Communities all over the world seem to have their own specialties, from the mysterious Blue Moon of the American Midwest to the elaborate ice cream replicas of art and architecture that have become common at China’s top tourist attractions. For National Ice Cream Month, Gastro Obscura takes a deep dive into the delicious stories behind each scoop.