Beijing has been shrouded in orange dust as a strong sandstorm blew hundreds of miles from drought-struck northern China to the nation's capital.In Tiananmen Square, clouds of dust obscured monuments, while visitors wore masks to avoid the dust and soil in windy conditions. A level five pollution warning was issued in the hazardous conditions, and people were urged to stay indoors. The storm also hit Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei. On Saturday it had spread over an area of 810,000 sq km with a population of 250 million, official news agency Xinhua reported.
Beijing has been shrouded in orange dust as a strong sandstorm blew hundreds of miles from drought-struck northern China to the nation's capital.
In Tiananmen Square, clouds of dust obscured monuments, while visitors wore masks to avoid the dust and soil in windy conditions.
A level five pollution warning was issued in the hazardous conditions, and people were urged to stay indoors.
The storm also hit Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei.
On Saturday it had spread over an area of 810,000 sq km with a population of 250 million, official news agency Xinhua reported.
