A huge pile-up on a Chinese expressway killed at least 17 people on Monday when 56 vehicles crashed into one another.

Another 37 injured people were stable after treatment, official news agency Xinhua reported.

The accident happened in snow and rainy weather in the northern province of Shanxi, on an expressway linking Beijing with Kunming.

Strong winds have hit much of China, which is bracing itself for its coldest spell in 30 years this week, with more than 80 flights leaving from and arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport cancelled on Monday.