bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Eva Li

Travellers to northern and eastern China are set to face massive disruptions in air and road traffic as the country on Tuesday issued its first-ever red alert for severe fog.
The red alert – the highest level in China’s three-tier system of yellow, orange and red warnings for fog – means visibility may fall below 50 metres within two hours. It is the first time the most severe warning for fog is being raised.
Heavy smog continues to choke China’s heartland
A large part of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei would be shrouded in thick fog from Tuesday to Wednesday, the national observatory said. Other provinces including Henan, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu would also be affected.

Airports in those regions are bracing to suspend flights and highways might also be closed.
The observatory warned drivers in affected regions to slow down and airports, highways and ports to take necessary safety measures.
Heavy smog back to choke northern China over three-day New Year holiday
The red alert for fog is being issued as Beijing and other surrounding regions continue to reel from severe smog, with air quality index going off the charts in some areas on Sunday.
An orange alert for smog is still in effect in northern, eastern and central China. Hundreds of flights in those regions were suspended on Sunday.
Drone footage of cars queueing for kilometres to enter smog-stricken Beijing has sparked heated discussion online as residents brace themselves for more heavy air pollution in the coming days.
The gridlock occurred at a toll station near the capital on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau expressway at about 3pm on Monday as motorists waited to pay toll fees.

Internet users have poked fun at the traffic congestion.
One viewer commented: “Wow, so spectacular! It fully reveals the achievements of reforming and opening.”
Another wrote: “Could I go there and sell beverages, boxed lunches and fruit?”
“I thought it was footage of a concert at first sight,” another wrote.
Drone footage showing extent of smog-stricken Beijing’s traffic jams leaves viewers gasping
Other social media users were glad they did not have to travel and could stay indoors.
“Why bother like this? I didn’t drove my car during the three-day holiday – I was free of traffic jams and smog.”
Others complained the smog. Wrote one: “It’s so serious, but the government did not even apologise. ”
“The counter-urbanisation phenomenon could be accelerated because of the problems facing megacities including traffic jams and smog,” one said.
Northern China is affected by heavy smog over the new year holiday, with many mainlanders complained of government inactions to tackle air pollution.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Monday that it had punished over 500 enterprises and construction sites and 10,000 vehicles for breaching anti-smog measures. The ministry said 10 inspection teams found companies resuming production despite a government ban.




China’s old industrial cities race to reinvent themselves in rapidly changing economy

China surpasses 10,000km of subsea pipelines, boosting offshore energy network

Hong Kong AI start-up develops emission monitoring system, with mainland as target market

New climate study revisits link between air pollution in East Asia and global warming

China pollution

China’s airports brace for disruption as first-ever red alert raised for severe fog

Passengers walk at the Hefei Railway Station in fog-bound Hefei, Anhui province, on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

(170103) -- HEFEI, Jan. 3, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2017 shows a fog-bound street in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. A red alert for fog in large parts of China was issued by the National Meteorological Center on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Guo Chen) (wf)

(170103) -- ZHUMADIAN, Jan. 3, 2017 (Xinhua) -- A car runs in the fog-bound county seat of Runan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 3, 2017. A red alert for fog in large parts of China was issued by the National Meteorological Center on Tuesday.  (Xinhua/Sun Kai) (wf)

News

China

People & Culture

Flights may be affected, highways closed as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and other regions to be shrouded in thick fog with visibility falling below 50 metres


Beijing air pollution