29 eerie photos that show just how polluted China's air has become
An aerial photo taken during a polluted day in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
![29 eerie photos that show just how polluted China's air has become](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-56364792%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1330253%2Fan-aerial-photo-taken-during-a-polluted-day-in-shenyang-liaoning-province-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Two people ride during heavy smog in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.
![Two people ride during heavy smog in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364791,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1166175/two-people-ride-during-heavy-smog-in-lianyungang-jiangsu-province-.jpg)
A tree sits between two buildings that tower through the thick smog in Jinan, Shandong province.
![A tree sits between two buildings that tower through the thick smog in Jinan, Shandong province.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364790,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1104639/a-tree-sits-between-two-buildings-that-tower-through-the-thick-smog-in-jinan-shandong-province-.jpg)
A view from the Jin Mao Tower in the Puxi district of Shanghai amid heavy smog.
![A view from the Jin Mao Tower in the Puxi district of Shanghai amid heavy smog.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364789,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1363245/a-view-from-the-jin-mao-tower-in-the-puxi-district-of-shanghai-amid-heavy-smog-.jpg)
A man cooks in open air during a "red alert" day in Hebei province.
![A man cooks in open air during a "red alert" day in Hebei province.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364788,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1388135/a-man-cooks-in-open-air-during-a-red-alert-day-in-hebei-province-.jpg)
Smog looms over the city of Tianjin, in northeastern China.
![Smog looms over the city of Tianjin, in northeastern China.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364787,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1016193/smog-looms-over-the-city-of-tianjin-in-northeastern-china-.jpg)
Bike riders wear masks to help filter the air they breath.
![Bike riders wear masks to help filter the air they breath.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364786,width-700,height-525,imgsize-749201/bike-riders-wear-masks-to-help-filter-the-air-they-breath-.jpg)
This woman and a young boy also choose to wear masks while in Jillin.
![This woman and a young boy also choose to wear masks while in Jillin.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364785,width-700,height-525,imgsize-32981/this-woman-and-a-young-boy-also-choose-to-wear-masks-while-in-jillin-.jpg)
Masks can help filter out a particulate matter called PM 2.5, which can get stuck in the lungs and lead to conditions like asthma and chronic lung disease.
![Masks can help filter out a particulate matter called PM 2.5, which can get stuck in the lungs and lead to conditions like asthma and chronic lung disease.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364784,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1032471/masks-can-help-filter-out-a-particulate-matter-called-pm-2-5-which-can-get-stuck-in-the-lungs-and-lead-to-conditions-like-asthma-and-chronic-lung-disease-.jpg)
Source: Business Insider
Some take more drastic measures to guard themselves from the pollution, such as this man wearing a full-on respirator in Beijing.
![Some take more drastic measures to guard themselves from the pollution, such as this man wearing a full-on respirator in Beijing.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364783,width-700,height-525,imgsize-34263/some-take-more-drastic-measures-to-guard-themselves-from-the-pollution-such-as-this-man-wearing-a-full-on-respirator-in-beijing-.jpg)
Everyday work doesn't stop in the smog — here, workers clean the exterior of the Shanghai World Financial Center.
![Everyday work doesn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364782,width-700,height-525,imgsize-908237/everyday-work-doesnt-stop-in-the-smog-here-workers-clean-the-exterior-of-the-shanghai-world-financial-center-.jpg)
People are seen on the street in smog during a polluted day in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
![People are seen on the street in smog during a polluted day in Shenyang, Liaoning province.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364781,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1288313/people-are-seen-on-the-street-in-smog-during-a-polluted-day-in-shenyang-liaoning-province-.jpg)
A woman wears a mask on a polluted evening.
![A woman wears a mask on a polluted evening.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364780,width-700,height-525,imgsize-543530/a-woman-wears-a-mask-on-a-polluted-evening-.jpg)
Boats pass along the Huangpu River next to the financial area of the Pudong New District amid heavy smog in Shanghai, China.
![Boats pass along the Huangpu River next to the financial area of the Pudong New District amid heavy smog in Shanghai, China.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364779,width-700,height-525,imgsize-510662/boats-pass-along-the-huangpu-river-next-to-the-financial-area-of-the-pudong-new-district-amid-heavy-smog-in-shanghai-china-.jpg)
Residential buildings are shrouded in a haze in Shenyang.
![Residential buildings are shrouded in a haze in Shenyang.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364778,width-700,height-525,imgsize-27058/residential-buildings-are-shrouded-in-a-haze-in-shenyang-.jpg)
The lights of downtown Shanghai appear dim due to the haze.
![The lights of downtown Shanghai appear dim due to the haze.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364777,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1449356/the-lights-of-downtown-shanghai-appear-dim-due-to-the-haze-.jpg)
In Harbin, a traffic policeman has to help navigate commuters since they can barely make out the headlights in front of them.
![In Harbin, a traffic policeman has to help navigate commuters since they can barely make out the headlights in front of them.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364776,width-700,height-525,imgsize-20505/in-harbin-a-traffic-policeman-has-to-help-navigate-commuters-since-they-can-barely-make-out-the-headlights-in-front-of-them-.jpg)
The smoke billowing from a nearby steel plant doesn't seem to bother this girl as she reads on her balcony in Quzhou.
![The smoke billowing from a nearby steel plant doesn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364775,width-700,height-525,imgsize-37020/the-smoke-billowing-from-a-nearby-steel-plant-doesnt-seem-to-bother-this-girl-as-she-reads-on-her-balcony-in-quzhou-.jpg)
A statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong stands tall in Shenyang.
![A statue of China](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364774,width-700,height-525,imgsize-12377/a-statue-of-chinas-late-chairman-mao-zedong-stands-tall-in-shenyang-.jpg)
Despite the poor air quality, cleaners work along the median of a main road in central Beijing.
![Despite the poor air quality, cleaners work along the median of a main road in central Beijing.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364773,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1250678/despite-the-poor-air-quality-cleaners-work-along-the-median-of-a-main-road-in-central-beijing-.jpg)
People walk on the Bund, a waterfront area near the financial district of Pudong in downtown Shanghai.
![People walk on the Bund, a waterfront area near the financial district of Pudong in downtown Shanghai.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364772,width-700,height-525,imgsize-35059/people-walk-on-the-bund-a-waterfront-area-near-the-financial-district-of-pudong-in-downtown-shanghai-.jpg)
A woman strolls through polluted air in front of a construction site of a residential compound in Wuhan.
![A woman strolls through polluted air in front of a construction site of a residential compound in Wuhan.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364771,width-700,height-525,imgsize-62099/a-woman-strolls-through-polluted-air-in-front-of-a-construction-site-of-a-residential-compound-in-wuhan-.jpg)
Smoke from a refinery's chimneys and cooling towers rises above the skyline in Ningbo.
![Smoke from a refinery](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364769,width-700,height-525,imgsize-36496/smoke-from-a-refinerys-chimneys-and-cooling-towers-rises-above-the-skyline-in-ningbo-.jpg)
A woman walks across the street during a particularly smoggy day in Changchun.
![A woman walks across the street during a particularly smoggy day in Changchun.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364768,width-700,height-525,imgsize-19457/a-woman-walks-across-the-street-during-a-particularly-smoggy-day-in-changchun-.jpg)
Citizens walk across a bridge, their line of sight extremely short due to the thick smog.
![Citizens walk across a bridge, their line of sight extremely short due to the thick smog.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364767,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1116808/citizens-walk-across-a-bridge-their-line-of-sight-extremely-short-due-to-the-thick-smog-.jpg)
A woman makes her way through traffic in Changchun.
![A woman makes her way through traffic in Changchun.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364766,width-700,height-525,imgsize-30729/a-woman-makes-her-way-through-traffic-in-changchun-.jpg)
High-rise buildings are shrouded in heavy haze all the way up to the top of the Qingdao development zone.
![High-rise buildings are shrouded in heavy haze all the way up to the top of the Qingdao development zone.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364765,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1171787/high-rise-buildings-are-shrouded-in-heavy-haze-all-the-way-up-to-the-top-of-the-qingdao-development-zone-.jpg)
The tops of these residential compounds in Wujiaqu just barely make it above the smog.
![The tops of these residential compounds in Wujiaqu just barely make it above the smog.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364762,width-700,height-525,imgsize-990441/the-tops-of-these-residential-compounds-in-wujiaqu-just-barely-make-it-above-the-smog-.jpg)
An electronic screen's brightness shines through this smog in Shenyang.
![An electronic screen](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-56364761,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1497190/an-electronic-screens-brightness-shines-through-this-smog-in-shenyang-.jpg)
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