People shun outdoors amid smog

As lingering smog blanketed China's northern and central regions for a fourth consecutive day on Sunday, its influence has been felt in people's schedules, as is evidenced by bustling museums, crowded hospital respiratory departments and less cheerful parks.

On Sunday morning, the National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert — the second highest — with smog expected to persist in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as parts of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The authority forecast that smog, which shrouded 15 percent of China, will not ease until Thursday when a cold front is expected to bring wind.

Masks, even a gas mask, are popular among runners attending a "naked run" event at Beijing Olympic Park on Sunday amid heavy smog. The event aims to promote environmental protection awareness. Feng Yongbin / China Daily

Families with children are going less often to parks for weekend outings.

The Summer Palace has seen a 20 percent drop in the number of visitors since Thursday compared with a year ago, according to the park administration. "There might be other factors involved, as the same period last year was still near the Spring Festival holiday. But the smog definitely played a part," said Qi Lin, a staff member at the park administration office.

Zhou Ying, mother of a 3-year-old girl in Beijing's Chaoyang district, said the family canceled its usual weekend outing to Beijing Olympic Park.

"The only option for us is to stay at home, with the air purifier on 24 hours a day," she said.