Can Beijing Always Have Blue Skies? Curbing air pollution is a long-term task

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ZOU YI BEIJING RESIDENT "I take a photo of the BTV building every single day and never stop. I want to see what I'm doing can help make some changes."

MA JUN, DIRECTOR INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC & ENVIRON. AFFAIRS "The concentration of PM 2.5 has dropped from nearly 90 micrograms in 2013 to 58 last year."

"I've taken some 2,000 photos. I don't intend to make it bad or good."

"The heavy pollution days have dropped from 39 to 23."

"That's my observation method. I always share the air information online."

HAN BIN BEIJING "Is Beijing's blue sky only the result of strong winds?"

"Very helpful, but the weather is not something we can control."

XU BIN CPPCC MEMBER "It's a comprehensive control-and-prevention that can't be done at once."

YANG YANYI CPPCC MEMBER "We have laws and regulations. The key is implementation."

WANG WENXIANG OBSERVER "Every year you see the weather getting better, but there's a lot of work to be done. It needs cooperation, and the leadership from the government and also from the people."

ZOU YI BEIJING RESIDENT "Beijing experienced severe smog in 2013. It was so severe that when you opened the window, you couldn't see the BTV building from here."

MA JUN, DIRECTOR INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC & ENVIRON. AFFAIRS "The government came up with a powerful five-year action plan. While Beijing has shut down all the power plants. Nearly a million households to transfer heating sources. Major efforts are implemented to control vehicle emissions. We've been doing a one-year intensive inspection."

"Beijing's weather is improving sharply. The PM 2.5 has dropped greatly. And there are more blue sky days than before."

HAN BIN BEIJING "The recent Beijing blue gives residents confidence that the battle against air pollution has achieved a temporary victory. But many like Zou Yi say, more efforts are needed step by step to make it permanent."

MA JUN, DIRECTOR INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC & ENVIRON. AFFAIRS "Beijing needs to continue to reduce coal consumption, to work on the industrial control, restructuring industry, improve the means of transportation. Far more importantly, how to further coordinate regional pollution control to really help surrounding regions strike the balance between economic growth and environmental protection."

ZOU YI BEIJING RESIDENT "I hope more citizens can take part in the efforts, and do whatever they can."

"We need to find a way to build a long-term mechanism, based on the rule of law. To take to the market approach, to really have the markets reward those who want to do better."

"My name is Zou Yi. I'm an ordinary citizen in Beijing. I hope our children can enjoy more blue skies than we do."