The top line reading is back down to 179, which is nothing to be alarmed at in China (and, much less than the other usual suspect cities).

Shanghai to Beijing
 

Beijing now is hitting 411 :mad:

It really stinks outside, checked the PEK airport site and seems not many delays for international departures.

What's the smell anyway? Coal? Automobile exhaust?

It smells like (that is what I think at least) - sulfar/coal ....just like during New Year after all the fireworks. In Ulaanbatar Mongolia I smell the same during the winter but then magnified by 100%.

Very bold of you to go to ULN in the winter. The cold is excruciating.

OCT 1-7 National Holiday Week
 

Not a good week to visit China! :td:
Everyone that works takes their annual vacation at the same time with their families, and the Roads are bumper to bumper traffic!
And so is the SMOG!
It is still warm to hot & humid until after Oct 10 or so.

The tourist sites are just as crowded with families & their small children.
Long waiting lines.
Hotels are crowded and Breakfast dining rooms are full.
Flights will be full, as well.

Oct 8 was the only day the clear BLUE sky was visible after most vacationers have gotten home from their travels.
If I were to go back again, I would plan on arriving about Oct 10! :)

While I also dislike National Day, if you were to visit China during a week when the factories are running, you'd likely conclude that the air pollution you experienced during the holiday was relatively tame.

The SMOG(smoke & fog) or SMAZ(smoke & haze) are far more irritating, burning of eyes and respiratory system in HOT and humid weather!
It was much more tolerable before the smog levels went up with more coal burning and higher road traffic, or high temperatures and low humidity.:(

Having lived near central Los Angeles in the bad air days of the 1960-1980's before improvements in gasoline chemistry for smog control, it is easy to see Beijing is much WORSE on a daily basis. :td:
Not sure a face mask will prevent damage to the lung tissue and the Immune System.
Note there are many current reports of the rise of cancer worldwide.
I hear of many reports of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as well.
So I would avoid visiting Beijing again until after the National Holidays, Oct 1-7. And all the tourist sites will have shorter lines with less people! :D

That is based on my experience of a recent trip, Oct 3-15. :td:

Living near the Ocean with on shore fresh air winds help prevent bad health.
Remember when Drs recommended vacations near the salty oceans!

hi guys, first time traveler to Beijing for 1 full day 1/2/2014. would you advise or purchasing a face mask before hand to prepare for our trip or shouldn't worry about it? we will be going to Tiananmen square and GW for a day then fly the next morning.

thanks !

Unless you're in extremely poor health or the pollution levels are off the charts, you might want to give the face mask a pass.

we are a couple in late 20s and early 30s and in good health. i am more concerned on the 'smell' side if its that noticeable as well.

thanks moondog, you are extremely helpful in all of my china questions :D

Everybody has different sensitivities but even living there, i do not notice any smell.

Of course you can always see a beautful sunrise at the center of the universe. :D

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/...05_964x643.jpg

Naive smog question. Took the train from Beijing to Shanghai yesterday. It was grey and hazy the entire way. That's all smog? I am used to grey winter days, and fog, but what I was seeing was all pollution and smog?

It's just really hard to believe that 700 miles of smog can exist.