Blustery spring winds delivered fresh air to 20m pairs of blackened lungs. But the denizens of China’s capital know that when the winds die down, the toxic smog will return.
The horrific air pollution and chronic traffic congestion are driving expatriates and even hardened locals away . At the height of January’s “airpocalypse”, readings of the most harmful types of pollutant were 40 times the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Moving hundreds of millions of people off the farm has delivered enormous economic growth. But urbanisation has also brought foul air, clogged roads, cultural destruction and streets of soul-sapping ugliness.
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