Messages spread

Many local residents posted messages on social media platforms to help the travelers.

"My family provides free accommodations suitable for a family of three," one message read, while another stated, "If you haven't found a place, we can offer one for free."

Messages and requests to help the travelers spread quickly on social media, attracting nationwide attention.

Kou Zhen, 34, and his group of four were on their way from Lanzhou, the Gansu provincial capital, to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang. Around 11 pm, they left the expressway and stayed in Guazhou for the night.

They were assisted by Li Shengyi, a local resident.

Kou said: "Li was not in town, but after a brief conversation, he gave us the location of his newly decorated apartment. His sister gave us the key and provided us with bed linen and also with breakfast the next morning. I was deeply moved by this complete trust in strangers."

Hua Zhixiong, 29, who comes from Guizhou province, was traveling to work in Xinjiang with his wife, mother and 6-month-old baby. After conditions on the road deteriorated, Hua decided to leave the expressway in Guazhou.

"After seeing us traveling with a baby, staff members helped accommodate us at the home of local resident Shi Fuyu. They provided us with a room and hot food," Hua said.

"The local people are incredibly kind. I felt they were willing to do everything they could to accommodate stranded travelers. Walking along the streets, you could hear residents telling travelers that if they had nowhere to stay, they could come to their homes."

To ensure those stranded were housed properly, the local government was quick to designate several middle schools and a gymnasium as temporary accommodation areas.

The authorities also mobilized personnel to form service teams to provide free fast food, hot water and other supplies, along with medical care.

The information office in Guazhou reported that as of 10 pm on Feb 17, the county had coordinated with hotels to provide 6,000 beds, with schools to offer 1,700 dormitory beds, and with hotels to provide temporary rest areas in meeting rooms and dining halls.

One of the accommodation points, Guazhou No 2 Middle School, hosted more than 780 people who were stranded.

Lu Zhifeng, a teacher at the school, said, "I remember there was a similar situation of people being stranded about four or five years ago, but it wasn't on the same scale and didn't happen as suddenly as this one.

"Some teachers brought the stranded travelers to their homes, with one teacher hosting nine individuals."

Lu added that he brought one young couple with a 16-month-old child to his home.

That night, as there was insufficient bedding at the school, the teachers brought their own for the travelers, with residents donating dozens of sets of bedding at the school gate.

"Some people were also offering bedding for 50 yuan ($6.94) per set, basically with no profit," Lu said.

He added that he was deeply impressed when the travelers left on Feb 18, as they neatly folded the bedding in the dormitories. Some also stayed behind for three hours to help clear the snow, which was about 10 cm deep.

Some restaurants, training institutions and other private venues also volunteered to accommodate those who were stranded.

After learning about the situation, art school principal Liu Lin immediately returned to the school to provide shelter for more than 200 people.