Beijing issues red alert for air pollution

Beijing issued its first air pollution red alert for 2016 yesterday, as choking smog is expected to cover the city and surrounding areas in north China during the next five days.

From 8:00 pm today, half of Beijing's private cars will be ordered off the road, with an odd-even number plate system in force, according to a notice posted on the official website of the Beijing municipal government.

Construction sites will be closed, and some industrial plants and enterprises will limit or stop production, the notice added.

"Enterprises and public institutions can adjust office time or ask employees to telecommute," the notice said.