BEIJING – Beijing was hit by its worst pollution in more than five months on Oct 26, as adverse weather conditions and manufacturing activities weigh on China’s efforts to clean up its air quality.

       The China Air Quality Index for Beijing stood at 282 as of 11.24am local time, the highest since May 23, according to a pollution meter published by the US Department of State.

       The local authorities warned vulnerable residents to reduce their outdoor exposure, as the capital’s Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre recorded the highest pollution level for eight districts in the city.

       The density of particulate matter 2.5, which is typically associated with factory emissions and car pollution, stood at 211 micrograms per cubic meter as of 11am, compared to an average reading of 29 in the first three quarters of 2024.

       Over the past decade, Beijing’s local authority has made progress in reducing air pollution by replacing coal with cleaner-burning natural gas, supporting electric vehicle uptake, and moving some heavy industry away from population centres. BLOOMBERG