Measures to reduce emissions clear Beijing skies

Fluffy white clouds float above the National Center for the Performing Arts and against a brilliant blue sky in Beijing on Aug 22, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Residents in Beijing have enjoyed the crystal blue sky for the past few days, with the air quality at the best level, which will last for three days, the Beijing environment authority said.

The capital has taken a series of efforts to reduce the air pollutants emissions from Aug 20 to Sept 3, to improve the air quality for the coming parade on Sept 3, marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, held in Tian' anmen Square.

During the period, Beijing has conducted restrictions on the use of vehicles based on their license plates, allowing them to run on alternative days, which has reduced traffic by 2.6 million vehicles every day, said the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau on Sunday.

Besides, 1,927 companies in the major polluting industries have reduced or suspended their production to reduce the air pollution, and 282 construction sites, which would generate dust, also have been shut down temporarily, according to the statement from the bureau.

Another 376 coal-fired boilers and 12 coal-fired power plants have reduced their production by 30 percent as required, the bureau said.

In order to supervise the implementation, the bureau and its monitoring teams have conducted direct inspection on these companies and districts without advance notice.