Shanghai to fill with tomb-sweepers

People planning to celebrate the Qingming festival next weekend should allow themselves plenty of time as 3.25 million cars are expected to hit the roads over the three-day period.

Tomb-Sweeping Day falls next Saturday, April 4, though roads are expected to be heavily congested through April 6, traffic authorities said yesterday.

The worst jams are likely to be at the entrances and exits to the S2, S4, S5, G2, G50, G50 and G1501 highways.

All of the city's expressways will be toll-free for vehicles with fewer than seven seats over the three days, officials said.

Traffic is also expected to be heavy this weekend as some people pay their respects ahead of the official date.

The Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau said earlier that about 8.5 million people will take part in tomb-sweeping ceremonies this year, about 200,000 more than last year.

The busiest times on the roads are likely to be between 6am to 11am and from 2pm to 5pm, it said.