Beijing - Change in Visibility Over 24 Hours

[fasternyou929]

I've tried to explain to friends how much the air quality in Beijing can vary, and how quickly. Throughout a day visibility can change from a mile or more to a couple city blocks.

On my last trip, I had the most perfect weather I've ever seen there. Blue sky in Beijing proper, high 70 to low 80 degree temps. If at all possible I would've called in sick just get out and enjoy it.

The next day, I couldn't believe how much it had changed.

These pictures were taken on separate days, but within an hour of each other. The clear one taken from the Beijing office ~10am, the other taken from my hotel at 8:30-9:00am.

[shmike]

Crazy.

What is the cause?

Is it pollution or fog-like?

[Trip]

pollution

the green sky is creepy as fuck

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by shmike

Crazy.

What is the cause?

Is it pollution or fog-like?

A lot is pollution, you can actually see it build up in the afternoon as traffic increases (no catalytic converters in China). And the smell is something like burnt copper. Unpleasant on days like picture #2.

The location of Beijing doesn't help. The winds will trap the air between the sea to the East and the mountains to the North and North West (where part of the Great Wall is).

The locals actually refer to it as "fog", because that's what the media refers to it as. The more educated, particularly those that travel internationally, know what it really is and call it smog.

[fasternyou929]

Here's another from the same day - moved the camera up to get the sunrise.

[CasterTroy]

Thats the sun?

Looks more like a reflection of a light in your room, or maybe a spec on the lens



WOW

My wife said it sucked there and she had terrible allergies and breathing problems, but she was in a hotel training all DAY so she only came out at night. She didn't mention the horrible polution. I'll have to show her these pics

[anthonyk]

Jesus, I'm glad I'm skipping that leg of my next business trip. That's nuts!

[t-homo]

Looks like going to beijing is no longer on the bucket list.

[tommymac]

maybe the govt wants to use lung cancer to thin the herd over there.

Tom

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by t-rock

Looks like going to beijing is no longer on the bucket list.

Don't remove it, pollution or not, still my absolute favorite place I've ever visited. If it weren't for the air quality (it's not always that bad, but it's often very clear either) I'd take a long-term assignment there in a heartbeat.

Friendliest, most happy people I've met, anywhere. I travel alone a lot and have had to rely on the locals for conversation. More than once I've been welcomed at a bar like a celebrity, people offering to buy rounds, asking where I'm from, etc. They're finally getting exposure to a world outside China and they really try to soak it up.
Amazing sites to see and more history than one can absorb in a lifetime.
Excellent food. Local Chinese food doesn't compare. China actually has a variet of peppers they will not export, some of which are used in Hunan, Kung Pao, and Schezuan dishes. And it's damn good.
It's inexpensive once you're there. Sharing a 7-course lunch with 5-6 people usually ends up costing $4-7 tops. And it's good food.

And this is only Beijing. Western China doesn't have the pollution issue and offers some incredible natural landscape. I hope to see it in person sometime.