AQI under 50: Another Day of Healthy Air

Masks off. The AQI made a sudden jump from an unhealthy average of 196 this morning to a very healthy 38 at 2pm this afternoon. This is the second rare, clear day in a week in Beijing, and a wheezy sigh of relief for a year choked by filthy skies.

According to the US Embassy’s air quality monitor, an average under 50 is considered “good” and “PM2.5 air pollution poses little or no risk.”

It is spectacular how pristine the cityscape looks when the air quality improves by that much. Just these photos from outside our office even show a remarkable difference.

Compare that to this...

How should we take advantage of these crystal skies? While it may be a little late to rush off to the suburbs for a saunter on the Great Wall or to gear up for a long-distance bike ride, the rest of this pleasant afternoon may be best spent napping on a park bench or sipping cocktails on one of Beijing’s best rooftop bars. Enjoy it while it lasts (like the guy below).

Photos:theatlanticcities.com, Nick Richards