BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rain and snow will hit east and central China over the next three days, affecting travel during the Lunar New Year holiday, China's national observatory forecast on Friday.

Regions in north and northeast China will expect snow or sleet during the period, and some parts of northern provinces will be hit by snowstorms, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

Hunan, Jiangxi and Hubei provinces as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will experience rainstorms, according to the observatory.

Fog will shroud some parts of north China and regions along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers, reducing visibility to less than 500 meters in certain areas on Friday and Saturday, the NMC said.

It advised residents in these areas to restrain from setting off fireworks, a practice likely to increase the concentration of pollutants during the foggy and windless weather.

The Chinese government has been urging people to light fewer fireworks during this week's Lunar New Year holiday, from Feb. 18 to 24, to help limit air pollution. Enditem