SINGAPOREANS are still going ahead with their travel plans to China despite the severe weather conditions there.

Those who have made plans to squeeze in a getaway to the country over the Chinese New Year are monitoring the situation.

Local travel agents interviewed by my paper yesterday said they have been receiving between two to five calls a day
from customers who have booked tour packages to China.

But none of the five tour agencies reported cancellations.

Hong Thai Travel's China department manager Ms Jessica Wang said popular tour destinations among Singaporeans such as Jiuzhaigou, Shanghai, Beijing and Xiamen have not been affected much.

She noted that several flights have been cancelled in Shanghai, but added: "In big cities such as Shanghai, Beijing or
Guangzhou, I believe they will have enough manpower and facilities to clear the jam."

ASA Holidays' seniormarketing manager Ms Eileen Ho said: "We are talking to our agents in China everyday for updates and to arrange for contigencies should the weather worsen."

ASA has 400 passengers scheduled to depart for Yunnan and Guizhou next week.

Chan Brothers said they have no plans to cancel their 16-member tour group leaving on Feb 6 for the central Hunan province, one of the worst-hit areas.

Some 6,400 vehicles with more than 10,000 people are estimated to be still stranded on a 116 km stretch of frozen highway there.

Said Chan Brothers spokesman Jane Chang: "We'll take the necessary steps to reroute the tour. Hunan is a big region, there will still be things to see."

China has deployed 460,000 troops to fight the country's biggest battle at the moment: the worst snowstorm it has seen in 50 years.

The soldiers yesterday fanned out across parts of China to clear ice and restore crippled power and food supplies.
They will also help ease the transport gridlock caused by heavy snow, sleet and ice rain that has hit 14 provinces in central and southern China.

It has resulted in the death of at least 55 people and affected about 77 million others, said a spokesman from China's Ministry of Public Security.

In a reflection of mounting government alarm, Premier Wen Jiabao went on a public relations offensive for a second
straight day yesterday, wading into crowds of marooned train passengers in the southern city of Guangzhou for days.

Trains services have been paralysed by a crippled power line.