Dust storms cast pall over north

Northern parts of China, including Beijing and Tianjin, were enshrouded yesterday by the season's second and most severe dust storm, meteorological experts said.

A cold current from Inner Mongolia autonomous region swept dust above Beijing's northern and western suburbs early in the day before dissipating in the afternoon.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, the dust covered a large area in the northern part of the country including middle and western Inner Mongolia, northern parts of Shannxi and Shanxi provinces, Hebei province and the western area of northeast China.