This Day, That Year

Item from Dec 25, 1998 in China Daily: To help restore the capital's air quality, several districts in Beijing launched campaigns to get rid of unlicensed barbecue and hotpot streetside businesses.

Barbecue cooking, vehicle exhaust and coal burning were identified as the three main pollution sources in the capital.

After a series of campaigns against air pollution, Beijing has seen a significant reduction in PM2.5 - tiny airborne particles that are harmful to health.