Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported that sandstorm appeared in south of Ganshu and west of Mongolia on February 29 and traveled south to Beijing with the cold air on March 1. The nearby regions of Beijing including west of Mongolia, Shanxi, and north of Hebei were reportedly remain under the sandstorm condition as of the first day of March. Estimated population affected will reach 110 million. Beijing recorded 15 sandstorms in the spring of 2007. More sand storms are expected in 2008.
Source: China News, March 2 and 4, 2008 http://www.chinanews.com.cn/tp/shfq/news/2008/03-02/1179107.shtml http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/03-04/1180550.shtml