Smog returning to Beijing area

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and neighboring regions are forecast to see heavy air pollution starting on Thursday and lasting for three days as a result of climatological conditions and holiday fireworks, officials said.

The density of PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers, will peak on Friday in the region, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on its official website.

Conditions were worsened by the traditional practice of setting off firecrackers on the fifth day of the first month in the lunar calendar, which fell on Wednesday this year.