Police personnel inspect passing vehicles amid dust-filled weather on Wednesday at a border checkpoint in Bayannur, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Strong winds have lifted large amounts of sand and dust into northern cities across China. Photo: VCG

A woman braves strong winds on a Shenyang street in northeast China’s Liaoning province on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Sand and dust envelop buildings Wednesday in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. Photo: VCG

Dust obscures the sky over Jinfeng district Thursday in Yinchuan, Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Photo: VCG

Sand and dust put a yellow hue over the skies of north China’s Tianjin on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A dull, dust-filled sky in Beijing’s Wangjing subdistrict on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Beijing residents cross the street in Wangjing subdistrict on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A resident passes through the Beijing Olympic Village on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A man rides a bicycle past the Beijing Olympic Tower in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A bleak view of Beijing’s Bird’s Nest on Thursday. Photo: VCG

The sun emits a blue glow amid the polluted sky in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: VCG