Smog shrouds Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan province, on Oct 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

Pollution casts pall over cities' livability

Harsher air pollution penalties sought

JINAN - Dozens of flights were delayed and highway traffic was affected after heavy fog shrouded parts of northern China early Sunday.

Visibility was less than 30 meters at Jinan International Airport in Shandong Province early Sunday morning, forcing the suspension of inbound and outbound flights.

As of 2 pm, 31 departing flights and over 10 arriving flights were delayed. Flight SC4076 from Bangkok to Jinan was forced to land at Yantai International Airport.

More than 2,000 passengers were stranded at the Jinan airport. Flights began to return to normal at 9:30 a.m., said an airport source.

Fog also hit Hebei and Henan provinces on Sunday morning. Visibility in Baoding, Langfang and Shijiazhuang was less than 50 meters. Several highways were closed due to the thick fog, which began to disperse at 10 am.