Parts of China still without power as snow-pummeled nation prepares for Lunar New Year

Cold, exhausted residents stood in long lines for water and gasoline Tuesday as the central Chinese city of Chenzhou entered the 12th day of a blackout sparked by the worst winter storms in more than half a century.

Families shopped for chickens for their Lunar New Year holiday feasts and traffic was moving on city streets, lending an air of normalcy during daylight hours.

However, the city remained almost entirely without power and prices of food, candles and charcoal briquettes used for heating and cooking had shot up _ quadrupling in some cases _ due to shortages, residents said.

"It is extremely cold and inconvenient. I haven't had a …