Air quality expected to decrease over large parts of country early this week

A wide downturn in air quality is expected to affect most of China over the three days starting on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. This follows an elevation in air pollution nationally in January.

Northern provinces will be among the worst hit, with medium to heavy air pollution anticipated during the period, the ministry said on its Weibo account.

South China and southwestern areas will be less affected. Those regions were expected to see sporadic, light pollution on Sunday, and are forecast to have relatively clear skies until Tuesday, it said.