Talk about the irony - I am writing this blog because my flight was canceled due to bad weather in Central China. Then again, this might be the only time I will have to write and reflect about the recent snow storm that nearly paralyzed China.

Let me share with you the highlights what I observed during the last three weeks.

CNN's images of the chaotic Guangzhou train station, not surprising, was not shown on China's local networks, or at least I did not come across with those vivid images on local stations. Instead, what we saw is the effectiveness of the government in taking care of the travelers, providing temporary shelter and food. Images of high level government officials visiting railway stations, hard hit provinces and talking to ordinary people stranded on highways have been frequent in the last few weeks. Radio stations would announce the rapid recovery of electrical power in certain cities..... An atmosphere of unity, sacrifice and harmony. This is what the Party preaches.

Yet, what we also saw is that government officials would get angry in front of TV stations when they learn that something was not going according to plan. Like the mayor of Shanghai, TV stations showed him challenging and getting angry at Shanghai municipal department in charged of road cleaning and traffic, all in front of a camera crew. It seems that the government official wants to be portrayed as responsible, yet it is the layers of bureaucracy that is delaying the rescuing efforts.

To tell you the truth, it is hard to know the real damage of this storm, but what we know is that this storm has come at a very sensitive time - Beijing Olympics is just 7 months away. Worldwide media will be challenging China of its skills during crisis management. And I am sure that the Chinese government will use Katrina as a rebuttal, and with a bit of passion, the government might use the attacks as part of nationalism build-up.

So don't be surprised if you come across with ordinary Chinese citizens not aware of the near-breakdown at the Guangzhou railway station. Because they never saw it or heard about it!