As of October 31, Beijing has seen 202 days of blue sky this year 15 days more than the same period of 2004, according to the municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

"In October, the cold air in Beijing created favorable conditions for the diffusion of pollutants, so that the air quality in Beijing's urban areas was good," said Wang Xiaoming, a bureau official.

Though fog in mid and late October worsened the air quality, citizens have nevertheless enjoyed 19 days of blue skies in the past month, seven days more than last October.

The official said the bureau launched its air pollution prevention program in early October to improve air quality during the autumn and winter.

Enterprises with highly polluting emissions were ordered to take measures to reduce harmful output while the municipal government has demanded nearly 5,000 vehicles be checked and their exhaust emissions reduced before they take to the roads.

(China Daily November 4, 2005)