Heavy smog hits Beijing, China
China’s capital and many cities in the northern part of the country recorded the worst smog of the year, with air quality devices in some areas unable to read such high levels of pollutants.
- An electronic screen is seen through pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. China has ordered thousands of factories to shut as it grapples with swathes of choking smog that were nearly 24 times safe levels on December 1, casting a shadow over the country’s participation in Paris climate talks. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A skyscraper is shrouded in smog on a heavily polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A woman waits for a bus below a skyscraper shrouded in smog on a heavily polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pedestrians wear masks on a heavily polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- People visit the National Bird Nest stadium on a polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images)
- People visit the National Bird Nest stadium on a polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images)
- A car drives along a highway on a polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pedestrians walk across a bridge in Beijing on December 1, 2015. China has ordered thousands of factories to shut as it grapples with swathes of choking smog that were nearly 24 times safe levels, casting a shadow over the country’s participation in Paris climate talks. (CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images)
- A magpie flies in heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- Commuters drive on a road in heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- Commuters drive on a road in heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- People walk through a overpass in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty)
- A couple take a selfie near Tiananmen Square during heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- Visitors wear masks as they walk in Tiananmen Square during heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- A couple wear masks as they walk in Tiananmen Square during heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man and a woman wear masks as they walk in Tiananmen Square during heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- An elderly woman wearing a mask looks on as she visits Tiananmen Square during heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man wearing a mask walks along a road in heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- A magpie flies in heavy pollution in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)
- Pedestrians cross a road on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- Haze is lit up by a video screen on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A tricycle taxi rider waits for customers on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A pedestrian wears a mask on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A tricycle taxi rider waits for customers on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. Beijing ordered hundreds of factories to shut and allowed children to skip school as choking smog reached over 25 times safe levels on December 1, casting a cloud over China’s participation in Paris climate talks. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- People cross a pedestrian overpass on a heavily polluted evening in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)
- A woman wearing a mask on a polluted evening on November 30, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- A man wearing a mask on a polluted evening on November 30, 2015 in Beijing, China. The representatives of the governments of more than 190 countries are meeting in Paris this week, including Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Paris meeting. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- A Chinese worker wearing a mask on a day of heavy pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. China’s capital and many cities in the northern part of the country recorded the worst smog of the year with air quality devices in some areas unable to read such high levels of pollutants. Levels of PM 2.5, considered the most hazardous, crossed 600 units in Beijing, nearly 25 times the acceptable standard set by the World Health Organization. The governments of more than 190 countries are meeting in Paris this week to set targets on reducing carbon emissions in an attempt to forge a new global agreement on climate change. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- A Chinese worker wearing a mask on a day of heavy pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- Heavy haze surrounds the a residence community on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- A woman wears a face mask next to traffic shrouded in heavy smog on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- A subway passing bridge on a day of heavy pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. China’s capital and many cities in the northern part of the country recorded the worst smog of the year with air quality devices in some areas unable to read such high levels of pollutants. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
- Chinese tourists walk on a high pollution day in the Temple of Heaven on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Chinese tourists wear masks as protection from the pollution outside the Forbidden City during a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Traffic is seen on a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese man wears a mask as protection from the pollution as he takes a picture in the Forbidden City during a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Chinese women wear masks as protection from the pollution as they cross a road on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Chinese commuters cross a road on a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese woman wears a mask as protection from the pollution outside the Forbidden City during a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese woman covers her face from pollution as she waits to cross a road on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Commuters ride bicycles in smog during a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese woman wears a mask as protection from the pollution crosses a road on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese man wears a mask as protection from the pollution as he stands in the Forbidden City during a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese couple wear masks as they kiss during a day of high pollution in Tiananmen Square on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese tourist wears a mask as she visits Tiananmen Square in heavy smog on a day of high pollution on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A Chinese Paramilitary police officer yawns as he stands guard at Tiananmen Gate during a day of high pollution in Tiananmen Square on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- Smog is seen on a day of high pollution at the Temple of Heaven park on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
- A woman wearing a mask practices roller blading at Olympic Park during dheavy smog on December 1, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)
- Pedestrians walk past a billboard scene of green trees and grass on a heavily polluted day in Beijing on December 1, 2015. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images)