Smog to clear in time for New Year, forecasters say

Beijing issued a blue alert for smog on Thursday, the lowest level on its color-coded emergency system, although forecasts suggest the only thing that will be blue on New Year's Day is the sky.

In the southern part of the capital, air pollution is expected to worsen to the second-highest level (severe pollution) on Friday, while smog will blanket neighboring Tianjin and several cities in Hebei province, according to data from the local governments.

Tianjin has issued a yellow alert, while Shijiazhuang, the Hebei capital, issued the highest warning - a red alert - on Thursday.