Smog to sit in Beijing through Wednesday

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is expected to see heavy air pollution through Wednesday because of unfavorable meteorological conditions, the top environmental authority said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Ecological Environment said the capital is likely to see moderate to heavy air pollution during the period. Some areas in Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan provinces will also be affected, it said.

Air pollution often worsens when heating systems are turned off in northern parts of the country - March 20 in Beijing this year - and most factories resume production after off-peak periods in autumn and winter, and pollutants begin to be discharged at a very high level.