Now that was an autumn to be jolly

It was like a veil had been lifted. Colors were more vivid, nearby objects more distinct and structures clearly visible in the distance.

New eyeglasses? No, smog in Beijing was but a fraction of its old self the past two months.

Sure, there were a few times since Golden Week in early October when the air quality index lapsed into its old habits, hitting the mid-100s, but that used to be the norm at this time of year, not the exception.