(CFP)

The surface of a road in Guiyang, the capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province, is covered in thick ice on January 2, leaving many vehicles stranded.

Widespread freezing rain and plunging temperatures have caused havoc in south China since the beginning of the new year, stalling traffic, damaging power facilities and disrupting lives.

The China Meteorological Center says cold weather may continue throughout early January. At the same time, China's Ministry of Public Security and provincial governments enacted emergency procedures to cope with the weather.