A Fog Blanket engulfs Beijing with worsening conditions in Northern China. On Wednesday, November 1st, a thick layer of fog and smoke covering China’s atmosphere, known as a Fog Blanket, hungover Beijing. The lack of cold air currents from the north made it impossible to dissipate the smog, leading to the formation of the Fog Blanket.
In the Hebei province and in Tianjin city, citizens experienced heavy
winter fog, causing the air to be murky with poor visibility past 50 meters. “I didn’t expect the smog to be so bad these days. The masks I’ve bought are almost used up,” said a 24-year-old Beijing tourist surnamed Gao.
Crop fires and industrial activity had contributed to the blanket formation. By Thursday night, cold air from the north rushed in, dissipating most of the smog, and pushing temperatures lower.
This was not the first time areas of China were affected by a major fog blanket. A couple years ago, a city less than 300 kilometers from Beijing, Shijiazhuang, had been known as the most polluted city on the planet. Many citizens’ health was affected.
.China was said to be in a war against pollution since 2014. As coal and the increase of car ownership had been a major contributor to the air pollution, the government has instituted a number of measures to fight pollution. This included limiting the number of cars on the road and banning coal power plants.
Efforts by the government had paid off resulting in the pollution level dropping by 42%. These efforts have increased the human lifespan of individuals living in China by 4 years.
