Beijing air quality improves dramatically after cold front disperses smog

Beijing's air quality improved dramatically on Thursday after relentless smog had shrouded the city for seven days.

According to Shanghai Daily, the smog has been lifted by a strong cold front which swept across northern China yesterday.

This week marked the first time the city was under the second highest warning of "orange-alert" since the measuring index was introduced last year. At 53 this morning, the capital's PM2.5 number reached highs of 553 in recent days. The figure records the most harmful particles present in the air, with the World Health Organization advising day-long exposure levels of no higher than 25.

Nearly 1,000 babies and toddlers were treated for breathing difficulties in hospitals across the city, Chinese officials have confirmed, while 147 industrial companies cut or suspended production during the alert.

President Xi Jinping braved the smog for a surprise walk around the streets of the capital on Tuesday, after previously calling the pollution the city's "biggest challenge". 

Watch Beijingers dance and sing in spite of the smog to Pharrell Williams' 'Happy'. 

[Image via Flickr]