(Updates first 5 paragraphs, adds byline) By Chris Buckley BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A dense fog covering Beijing cut visibility to a few dozen metres and delayed flights in and out of the national capital for much of Wednesday, disrupting China's week-long Lunar New Year celebrations. The fog that has descended over large parts of China in the past two days made it impossible to see buildings more than a short distance away, hid traffic lights in a dim shroud, and forced long delays at Beijing's Capital Airport. Chinese television news reported at midday that over 150 flights had been delayed in Beijing. Planes did not start taking off or landing until late afternoon, when thousands of passengers were camped out waiting for the weather to improve. Some international arrivals were diverted to Shanghai or other cities. A roar of relief echoed through the air terminal when loudspeakers announced that flights would begin taking off. By late afternoon, a breeze had diluted some of the acrid fog, increasing visibility and allowing planes to leave. "Flights are taking off but quite a few have been cancelled already," a staff member on Beijing airport's inquiry line said. "It will take a while before schedules are back to normal, depending on the weather." China is in the middle of its traditional Lunar New Year holiday. The holiday has cleared the traffic that usually snarl Beijing's roads, but it has also brought an influx of tourists. Highways around Beijing and the nearby port city of Tianjin have been closed to prevent traffic pile-ups, Chinese television news reported. The fog has also cut visibility and roads in surrounding provinces. China's national meteorological service warned that the fog covering the country's east raised risks of traffic accidents. "As well, the air quality in the foggy weather is quite poor and urban residents should reduce outdoor activities as much as possible," the meteorological service warned on its Web site (www.nmc.gov.cn). The fog is likely to stay until Wednesday night, when a cold front may bring winds that sweep it away, the weather service said. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard)
