China's national weather bureau gave the air quality a rare 5 rating - "heavily polluted" - and visibility was so bad that several flights had to be delayed at Beijing Capital International Airport, according to staff. The high-speed rail
service between Beijing and Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, was also suspended for about two hours.
In Beijing, residents woke on Saturday morning to find the city's streets blanketed by yellow dust. According to the National Meteorological Center, the sand traveled from deserts in the Mongolian People's Republic and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
Residents were advised to keep windows closed, and to use masks and scarves to protect their eyes and mouths while outside.
"Sandstorms can cause serious illnesses, and can affect the eyes and respiratory
system,"
Drivers had to turn on their car headlights to see through the midday dust,
while some of the passenger ships scheduled to leave ports in Shandong province
were delayed.
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