Prolonged Fog In Chinese Cities Causes Inconvenience On People’s Livelihood

Women wearing masks ride on road in fog-enveloped Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan Province, Jan. 14, 2013. Thick smog pushed the sales of protection masks as the foggy weather expanded to many parts of northern and eastern China. <Xinhua/Li Bo>

Motorcars run on the Bayi Bridge amid heavy fog in Nanchang, capital of east China’s Jiangxi Province, Jan. 14, 2013. Nanchang’s air has been heavily polluted for five days in a row, according to local meteorological authorities. <Xinhua/Zhou Ke>

Skyscrapers are partly seen amid thick fog in Suzhou, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Jan. 14, 2013. Emergency response measures were adopted in many Chinese cities, where the air has held excessive levels of major pollutants in the past few days due to prolonged fog and smog. Heavy fog has caused highway closures and flight delays in several provinces. The elderly, children and those suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are advised to stay indoors to reduce exposure to polluted air. <Xinhua/Yao Jianping>