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Before and After: How different is a smoggy day from a clear day in Beijing?
Staff
Beijing
Globe and Mail Update

This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

As China marked the start of the Lunar New Year last week, all was quiet in the southern city of Nanjing.

A Jan. 1 law banned all fireworks at all times, removing a previous exception that allowed them over the Lunar New Year. The reason? Authorities have been stamping out exploding fun in the name of cleaner air.

China's air is routinely thick with smog from huge numbers of coal-fired power plants and factories.

National Grand Theatre

The National Grand Theatre, which has been nicknamed "The Egg," in Beijing. Pictures taken November 19, 2014 (smog) and November 17, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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Chairman Mao

A statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing. Pictures taken January 14, 2015 (smog) and November 17, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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CCTV Tower

China Central Radio and Television Tower in Beijing. Pictures taken January 15, 2015 (smog) and December 19, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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Tiananmen Gate

The Tiananmen Gate, where the portrait of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong, in Beijing. Pictures taken on January 15, 2015 (smog) and November 17, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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Galaxy Soho

The Galaxy Soho building in Beijing. Pictures taken January 14, 2015 (smog) and November 17, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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Cityscape

Buildings in Beijing. Pictures taken January 15, 2015 (smog) and December 19, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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Pandas

Statues of pandas in Beijing. Pictures taken January 14, 2015 (smog) and November 17, 2014 (clear). REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

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MICHAEL SNIDER / THE GLOBE AND MAIL