Chinese pollution: 'As if living in a war time'

Air pollution causes Beijing's foresight to fall below 200m and people feel like they are living in war with thick smoke and constant red alert.

South China Morning Post said that until 18:00 on December 20, 359 flights at Beijing Capital Airport were canceled due to limited visibility making it difficult to take off. Airports in Tianjin and Shandong nearby are also affected.

At least 23 cities in northern China have issued red alert to air pollution. According to China News, smog covers one seventh of the world's most populous country.

In Beijing, foresight drops to less than 200m. Some highways of the 6th Ring Road as well as the main roads connecting the capital with Tianjin or satellite cities in Hebei have all stopped circulating.

Hundreds of flights to and from Beijing were canceled or delayed on December 20 due to a reduced visibility of less than 200m.(Photo: Xinhua).

Hu Shiqiang, a Beijing suburb resident, said she felt like she was living in a war movie."The air is full of dust and the news of red alert . feels everything is surreal," she said. "If I don't have a meeting, I'll stay at home."

Shop owner Dong Qiang in Dongcheng District, Beijing, said food prices will continue to rise."If you think 5 yuan for half a tomato is expensive, come back tomorrow," he assured. He predicted that the price increase was due to the more time-consuming transportation.

"The price of food is sure to increase. I go to pick up vegetables at the evening market and the seller tells him it takes 8 hours to transport the goods instead of 2 hours as before because of the foggy mist , " Dong told South China Morning Post.

Many people had to transport their children to work because schools closed after Beijing announced a red alert last weekend. This is the first time in 2016, the Chinese capital alarmed air pollution at the highest level in the 4-level scale in this country.

However, some people still maintain their daily activities such as exercise, even when wearing masks. As forecast, pollution will gradually improve with the emergence of winds from the north from December 22.