Cars with even-numbered licence plates were kept off roads, and schools and building sites stayed closed on the second of three days of restrictions triggered by the alert.
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As of 12 o’clock at noon, the reading of PM2.5 – particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 microns that is hazardous to human health – was lowered to 26 microgram per cubic meter in the six downtown districts, falling at the best air quality level.
China placed Beijing on a mandatory pollution red alert, closing schools and minimizing construction due to extreme smog affecting the air quality in the heavily-populated capital.
Dingzhou and Xinji, two cities in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, followed the capital’s lead to issue their first ever red alerts, the state-run China Daily reported, while 27 other cities across northern parts of the country also upgraded their public warning levels Tuesday, it said.
Most of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the burning of coal for electricity and heating – particularly when demand peaks in winter – which is also the key cause of smog.
Nonetheless, Beijing residents had something to rejoice about: As of Thursday afternoon, the worst of the smog had reportedly dissipated and blue skies had returned once more to the Chinese capital.
“I’ve already sold seven machines worth 30,000 renminbi”, or about $4,700, said shopkeeper Yuan Yuxia as she tried to keep up with the steady stream of customers pushing through the door just 90 minutes after the shop opened.
More curiously, however, sportswear and condoms became top search items on Taobao as well, said efu.com, overtaking traditionally popular items like women’s clothing and make-up.
Local reports said the authorities have been vigilant and acted against polluters who flouted bans. People in highly polluted cities including Beijing were responding in different ways. “Smog is an important factor in the aggravation of diseases”, he said.
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Li Shixiang, deputy mayor of Beijing, said the efforts to curb the air pollution turned out effective and the government will build more monitoring stations and mobile monitoring vehicles, to provide more information to facilitate the forecast on smog.
