Spring sickness

While most people celebrate the warm weather and green shoots of spring, the season can be decidedly less joyful for sufferers of hay fever. Liu Zhihua reports.

Spring is a wonderful time of year for most people. It is a chance to enjoy beautiful flowers and warm air. But for those who suffer from hay fever, like Beijing resident Song Wei, it can be a challenging season. With the pollen from poplar and willow trees blowing through the Beijing air, the 63-year-old has to stay indoors as much as possible.

When flowers have only just started to bloom, he must wear a mask everywhere he goes.