Govt cars off road

Beijing has taken 30 percent of government vehicles off the road since Tuesday to deal with air pollution.

The move aims to ease the continual smog in the city since Jan 10, said the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.

After the first period of serious pollution from Jan 10 to 14, the city has again been hit by intense pollutants since Sunday as the readings of PM2.5, or particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, as well as other pollutants, keep rising, it said.

The bureau also suggested the residents reduce outdoor activities.

According to the Beijing Commission of Economy and Information Technology, 103 polluting enterprises are suspended from operation, and other big enterprises, especially those in the industry of chemistry and metallurgy, have been also asked to reduce their output since Tuesday.

- Zheng Xin