Beijing Pollution

[rocknroll_jeph]

I think I am the only member here who lives in China, so I felt like sharing my recent experiences with the pollution.

First off, I have been living here since 2000, so for me pollution really doesn't bother me, its just like a different season that I have to live with. However, this week was the first time that the government really started to make a big deal out of it. The past few days the index was around 300, which isn't that great, but it is very often much worse. It bothers me that everyone was making a big deal out of the "high" pollution when it was just an average high pollution for us long term residents.

The good thing is that I got two days off work because the school I teach at was closed. In addition to factories and construction sites, all cars in Beijing were restricted based on the last number on the licence plate, odds one day and even the other. On Wednesday I used my day off to run some errands and it was such a treat having half the cars off the road. I actually got to drive the speed limit (120kph) most of the way on the expressway.

Some people have been complaining of roughness in their throats and burning eyes this week. I see today back at work there is a lot of coughing, but if it is due to pollution or not I can not be sure.

Currently, there is a bit of wind blowing and has helped clear out the sky, it is starting to look blue once again and everyone can get back to their lives. I think it was good that people are starting to wake up and be proactive about the pollution situation, and as far as renewable energy is concerned China is doing pretty well. There are quite a few electric cars on the road, solar panels everywhere and many homes water is heated by solar power. Of course there is still a long way to go. I live in a very high-end villa here in Beijing and I was a bit surprised to see a multimillion dollar house burning coal for heat yesterday... Some still don't quite get it.

Below are some pictures I took Wednesday on my way back home from running my errands, they were taken just outside of Beijing near the airport. The pictures are unaltered photos from my iPhone, although I think that the camera can look through the smog, because in person I actually couldn't see as far is the camera could.

[Mr Twisty]

Looks like los Angeles in the 80s

[its a syn]

I remember the brown clouds over the big cities back in the 70's.

[mike@vossen]

Originally Posted by rocknroll_jeph

I think I am the only member here who lives in China, so I felt like sharing my recent experiences with the pollution.

First off, I have been living here since 2000, so for me pollution really doesn't bother me, its just like a different season that I have to live with. However, this week was the first time that the government really started to make a big deal out of it. The past few days the index was around 300, which isn't that great, but it is very often much worse. It bothers me that everyone was making a big deal out of the "high" pollution when it was just an average high pollution for us long term residents.

The good thing is that I got two days off work because the school I teach at was closed. In addition to factories and construction sites, all cars in Beijing were restricted based on the last number on the licence plate, odds one day and even the other. On Wednesday I used my day off to run some errands and it was such a treat having half the cars off the road. I actually got to drive the speed limit (120kph) most of the way on the expressway.

Some people have been complaining of roughness in their throats and burning eyes this week. I see today back at work there is a lot of coughing, but if it is due to pollution or not I can not be sure.

Currently, there is a bit of wind blowing and has helped clear out the sky, it is starting to look blue once again and everyone can get back to their lives. I think it was good that people are starting to wake up and be proactive about the pollution situation, and as far as renewable energy is concerned China is doing pretty well. There are quite a few electric cars on the road, solar panels everywhere and many homes water is heated by solar power. Of course there is still a long way to go. I live in a very high-end villa here in Beijing and I was a bit surprised to see a multimillion dollar house burning coal for heat yesterday... Some still don't quite get it.

Below are some pictures I took Wednesday on my way back home from running my errands, they were taken just outside of Beijing near the airport. The pictures are unaltered photos from my iPhone, although I think that the camera can look through the smog, because in person I actually couldn't see as far is the camera could.

Thanks for sharing!! We were in China for some of September and to us it depended on the city/time.

[hrpiii]

Nice car and would love some open road like that.

[rocknroll_jeph]

Originally Posted by hrpiii

Nice car and would love some open road like that.

Thanks for the reply! Sadly, the only reason that road was so empty was because of the plate restrictions that day. The restrictions have been lifted and I went into town today it seemed as if I used the brakes more than the gas on the expressway. I think I averaged 15kmh all day. But when the roads are open it is pure bliss for sure！

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by rocknroll_jeph

Thanks for the reply! Sadly, the only reason that road was so empty was because of the plate restrictions that day. The restrictions have been lifted and I went into town today it seemed as if I used the brakes more than the gas on the expressway. I think I averaged 15kmh all day. But when the roads are open it is pure bliss for sure！

I need something similar in my area, specifically on Friday afternoons and weekends. But instead of it being a plate restriction, would like "IQ-Stupidity" restrictions. Geesh the number of people that lack basic driving skills is horrible. Kids texting, moms trying to control kids, dad talking on cellphone, old lady with no idea the speed limit is not 30 mph, and the list goes on. If I am driving, I am driving..not multitasking with anyone or anything in the car. Is it getting worse, or am I becoming less tolerant?

[rray]

Watch the movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and when the band fly's into "City of the Angels" to sign a record deal, note the color of the air looking out the jet's windows. That's what our air looked like in the 1970's.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[AZCamaroFan]

it's unbelievable. i can remember when i first moved to l.a. a day where my eyes actually stung, but the air was still not close to that bad. it's rediculous.

[pickwithaustin]

We let them do all of our more hazardous manufacturing because it would cost too much to do in the U.S. with all of our (thank goodness) controls to protect our environment. Over there, I understand, there isn't much thought put into that and it's just spit out product as cheaply as you can. Rather sad, really. You would think that mankind would learn from one another and not repeat...

[JLSuperfly]

It looks like a foggy San Francisco morning.