Beijing's neighboring Tianjin Municipality issued an orange alert for heavy air pollution Sunday.
The orange alert, the second highest in the city's four-tier warning system, indicates an air quality index (AQI) over 200 for three consecutive days, or more than 300 for one day.
Effective from 6 p.m. Sunday, a second emergency response will be initiated whereby polluting plants are ordered to cut emissions by 30 percent, with medium-sized and large diesel vehicles taken off the road. Outdoor construction will also be limited, with dusty earth and rock work suspended.
Monitoring data from the Tianjin municipal environmental monitor center showed the AQI in most parts of the city had exceeded 100 at 9 a.m. Sunday.
