We just can’t face showing you another bad air photograph. Also, we think we’ve used them all.

Starting tonight at midnight (December 30), an orange air alert will be active throughout Beijing (as well as surrounding Hebei and Tianjin) through to midnight of January 1. Then on January 1, a cold front will blow some of the smog away, leading to a brief spell of improved air predicted to last approximately two days. Bad air will then come back to continue until January 5. Starting from January 6, we can look forward to something more akin to breathable air.

This air alert is in place according to a new air warning system active as of December 15. 

According to the new regulations, an orange air alert (which indicates AQI over 200 for three or more days, in our case) restricts use of old cars during rush hours, construction vehicles are prohibited, polluting industries are to be shutdown, fireworks and outdoor barbecues are banned, and there will be additional road cleaning.

We checked with our usual friends over at AirVisual, who have also predicted smog for the next few days. Better get outside and enjoy one last breath of fresh air, Beijingers, because according to these predictions, the air quality is deteriorating as we speak.

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Images: The Beijinger, eukicks.com, AirVisual