At its peak on Friday evening, the figure passed 10,000.

Xu Xinyu, an official at the airport, said 4,500 soldiers and workers cleared ice and snow from runways for hours on Monday, enabling the airport, which had to close at about 10 am, to reopen at 2:30 pm.

The airport provided free breakfasts and lunches on Sunday and Monday, Xu said.

Wang Haijun, a 43-year-old passenger from Xi'an in Shaanxi province who was stranded at the airport, was hoping the weather would improve.

"It feels terrible at the airport without knowing when we can go home," Wang said, adding that he appreciated the free meals and water.

Zhang Zhiping, 50, another stranded passenger, said the response to the storm has not been quick enough.

"I see many soldiers clearing ice and snow, but they are not doing it fast enough," he complained.

Another 11 airports in the province were affected by heavy snowfall on Monday with 93 flights canceled and 8,742 passengers affected, the Yunnan Airport Group said.

The group reminded passengers to call airlines for flight information before going to airports.

The civil affairs authorities in Kunming are acting to help the homeless.

"We are sending quilts, clothing, food and other items to the homeless today, because temperatures may fall below zero at night," Li Jinliu, head of a rescue center in the city, said.

More than 100 people had been staying at the center, which provides two free meals a day, as of Monday, Li said. It can accommodate 200 people.

The provincial civil affairs bureau said that floods have left two people missing and affected 29,000. Damage caused by the snowstorms is still being assessed.