On Saturday, Beijing canceled hundreds of flights and closed public parks due to high winds and the threat of sandstorms. Massive gales caused damage across the capital, including felling trees, crushing cars, and damaging older homes. Beijing’s two international airports, Beijing Capital and Daxing, canceled 693 flights, with more cancellations expected as violent weather continued to approach. Other parts of China also experienced flight and train cancellations. Some areas recorded the most powerful winds in over 75 years, reaching speeds of up to 92 mph.
The Universal Studios theme park in Beijing was closed, along with historic sites like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven. Outdoor events, including football matches, were also suspended. High winds and sandstorms are common in China’s dry north, where the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts are surrounded by grasslands, mountains, and forests. China has been working to reduce the impact of sandstorms for many years, particularly in Beijing, where they can severely limit visibility, fill buildings with sand, and cause discomfort to people’s eyes, nose, and ears. The issue is especially challenging in Beijing, which sits on the edge of an arid region where sandstorms are a frequent occurrence.
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