"At 9 a.m. I got in a cab...arrived at the airport toll gate at 10 a.m.,1 it's now 1 p.m. and I still haven't got to the airport!" the newspaper quoted a woman surnamed Zhu as saying. The toll gate is just a few kilometres from the airport.

Some people abandoned their cars and dragged their luggage up the highway in an attempt to catch flights, the paper said.

But over 360 flights were delayed and 60 cancelled due to the dual onslaught of fog and heavy rain, and 10 major roads were cut off, according to state media.

Beijing's Olympic Games will open in two years and a week from Tuesday. August is usually one of Beijing's wettest months, with regular storms and heavy rains.

When the Olympics opens on Aug. 8, 2008, Beijing is expected to be swamped by around 40,000 athletes and officials, 50,000 reporters, 100,000 volunteers and over two million tourists, state media have said.

The Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games told Reuters on Tuesday it was sure sure new subways and better traffic management would mean a smooth Olympics.