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Beijing air pollution: 'Blue skies are a rarity' says Brit expat

Beijing-based finance worker Simon Oakholme says China's capital is so used to thick smog that blue skies are a genuine rarity.

The unprecedented air pollution in China has sparked both frustration and dismay from the media and Beijing residents alike.

Simon Oakholme, a British finance worker who moved to the Chinese capital a year ago, said that although Beijingers are used to pollution in their city, even they have been surprised by the density of the recent smog.

The problems are compounded by the scarce supply of air purifiers for those battling the murky haze.

Simon, 28, said purifiers regularly sell for around £1,500 in Beijing, while reliable foreign-made versions quickly sell out altogether.

He told Yahoo! News: "The pollution is nothing new. It's a heavily polluted city, and probably half of each week the city is grey with smog, while buildings disappear into the thick mist.

"Living with the pollution comes with the territory, people here are always aware of it.

"Beijingers and expats alike admire days of blue sky like it's something they've never seen before.

"On my first trip back to Europe after I moved here, I couldn't stop talking about how fresh the air felt and how beautiful the sky looked."


Simon said that the worst day for the recent smog conditions was Saturday - when the noxious haze was so thick it tasted of chemicals and made his eyes tingle.

Simon added: "Saturday was the worse that I (and anyone else I spoke to) has ever seen it in Beijing.

"Visibility was poor, the air tasted even more 'chemical' than normal and my eyes even tingled a little when I went outside.

"I did my best to avoid being outdoors and, when I did, even if walking, my mask was firmly on."

Simon, who lived in Shanghai for six months in 2009, said Beijing appears to have a deeper air pollution problem are not helped by its location close to other industrial cities, and away from water or windy conditions.

He said: "The worse thing is just not knowing how bad an effect it will really have on your health and whether there's anything you can do to help it, and if so, how far out of your way to go to help it."