Sandstorms Hit Beijing

Sand Dunes
Severe sandstorms had hammered northwestern China over the previous few weeks and arrived in Beijing Friday night, March 19, bringing strong winds and sand. A day later, several cities in eastern China, including Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou, reported similarly bad air quality. Hong Kong and Taiwan also reported dangerously high levels of pollution.

• Beijing and the Onslaught of the "Mongolian Cyclone"