Smog returned to parts of northern China on Friday as red and orange alerts were issued for the new round of pollution over the weekend.
PM2.5 readings in many areas of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province exceeded 200 on Friday afternoon. In Shijiazhuang, Hebei's provincial capital, the index exceeded 400, meaning severe pollution.
Tourists taking selfies at Tiananmen square on Friday
Beijing issued an orange alert, the second-highest level on the four-tier system, on Friday. The alert will continue on Saturday and Sunday.
Tianjin also issued an orange alert on Thursday night, banning heavy diesel trucks from roads and cutting 30 percent of pollutant emissions of key factories.
Eight cities, including Shijiazhuang in Hebei, activated red alerts, the highest level response, on Thursday night.
Seven cities in Henan, including provincial capital Zhengzhou, have also issued red alerts on Friday. Zhengzhou suspended classes in its schools on Friday.
The new round of pollution is is expected to last until Jan. 5 in Hebei and Henan.
The smog has also affected Shandong Province, where Jinan, Dezhou and Liaocheng cities will be put on red alert on Friday night.
School classes will be suspended and cars will be restricted from the streets in areas with red alert warnings.
(Story from China Daily)
