Schools close in smog-enshrouded eastern China

Hazardous air pollution forced schools to shut or suspend outdoor activitiesin at least two cities in eastern China, where residents complained of theyellow skies and foul smells that are symptomatic of the country's cripplingsmog crisis.

China's stability-obsessed leadership has become increasingly concerned bythe abysmal air quality in cities, as it plays into popular resentment over politicalprivilege and rising inequality in the world's second-largest economy.

In Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, the sun was the colour of"salted egg yolk" on Wednesday as the government raised the "redalert" for poor air quality for the first time, state-run news mediareported.

The city saw levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5micrometers, reach a reading of 354 on Wednesday, said Nanjing-based news portal news.longhoo.net.

Levels above 300 are considered hazardous, while the World HealthOrganization recommends a daily level of no more than 20.

Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province, was also shrouded in smog asPM2.5 levels of over 300 were recorded, said Peninsula Metropolis Daily, aQingdao newspaper.

Nanjing suspended classes in primary and secondary schools and Qingdaobanned outdoor activities, said the official Xinhua news agency. Qingdao alsobanned the burning of leaves and rubbish and restricted the use of governmentvehicles, while Nanjing said it would strengthen control on industrial sourcesof pollutants.

Both cities predicted the severe pollution would continue, indicating themeasures will not be lifted soon, said Xinhua.

Residents in both cities took to China's popular Twitter-like Weibo site todescribe desolate streets and the apocalyptic environment. "The sky ispale yellow and the air is full of a choking smell," one user wrote.

The smog follows reports in October of pollution all but shutting downHarbin, one of northeastern China's largest cities. Visibility was reportedlyreduced to ten metres (33 feet).