Easy part of clean Beijing skies is over
Visitors to the Olympic Games may remember Beijing for the elaborate fireworks at the opening and closing ceremonies, but locals were more impressed by sunny, blue skies they have dreamed of for years.
But will the clearer air persist?
Ma Jun , head of the non-governmental Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said the improvements illustrated that the problem was not beyond the control of the government.
'It may be easy to achieve desirable results with emergency measures and the people's almost unconditional support for the Olympics,' he said. 'But the real challenge now is how to ensure a healthy and liveable environment for millions of residents in the years to come.'
Ministry of Environmental Protection assessments officer Mu Guangfeng said most of the last-minute restrictions were unlikely to continue. 'We have also come to realise how bad the city's pollution problems are' that only such desperate attempts could make a change, Mr Mu said.
