Beijing enjoys brief respite, but choking smog likely to return on Tuesday

Beijing

HEAVY smog that blanketed northern China at the weekend cleared somewhat on Monday, with flights in Beijing back to normal, but it was likely only to be a brief respite with more choking smog expected to return to the wintry north within 24 hours.

Weather forecasts on Monday showed the smog would return to Beijing and nearby Tianjin city from Tuesday. It was expected to persist until Thursday in Hebei, the heavily industrialised province that surrounds the Chinese capital, and Henan and Shandong provinces as the north battles freezing temperatures.