Scary Visuals In China, Beijing Chokes In The Worst-Ever Mongolian Sandstorms

 The Chinese capital Beijing was shrouded in thick brown dust on Monday and the meteorological agency has called the biggest sandstorm in a decade. (Image: AFP)

Beijing Meteorological Service issued a yellow alert for a sandstorm on Monday morning, saying that Beijing is seeing dust and visibility is expected to be less than 1,000 meters in most areas in Beijing until noon. (Image: AFP)

The heavy winds blowing in from the Gobi desert and parts of northwestern China had spread from Inner Mongolia into the provinces of Gansu, Shanxi, and Hebei, which surround Beijing. (Image: AFP) 

After the sandstorm hit China's capital Beijing, its official air quality index reached a maximum level of 500 on Monday morning, with floating particles known as PM10 reaching 2,000 micrograms per cubic metre in some districts. (Image: AFP)

According to the NMC, 12 provinces and cities will see sandstorms during the day and at night, with sandstorms in some areas. (Image: AFP)

Beijing faces regular sandstorms in March and April due to its proximity to the massive Gobi desert as well as deforestation and soil erosion throughout northern China. (Image: AFP)According to the NMC, 12 provinces and cities will see sandstorms during the day and at night, with sandstorms in some areas.

Beijing has planted a “great green wall” of trees to trap incoming dust, and has also tried to create air corridors that channel the wind and allow sand and other pollutants to pass through more quickly. (Image: AFP)

Beijing and surrounding regions have been suffering from relatively high levels of pollution in recent weeks. (Image: AFP)

The city was also shrouded in smog during the national session of parliament which began on March 5. (Image: AFP)

Tangshan, China’s top steelmaking city and a major source of pollution in Beijing and Hebei, they have not taken any anti-smog measures. (Image: AFP)