The sky grows dark on Saturday in Kashgar, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, as strong winds blow sand and dust into the city. Photo: VCG

A child rides along a road enveloped by sand in Kashgar. Regions in eastern and southern Xinjiang will continue to be affected by dust and sand until Tuesday, Weather China reported. Photo: VCG

Residents stroll around a sand-swept square in Kashgar. Photo: VCG

A sandstorm looms over Qiqihaer in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on Monday. At 3:40 p.m. that day, the PM10 concentration in the city reached an extremely poor level of over 370 micrograms per cubic meter. Photo: VCG

Sand and dust shroud the sky over Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province. The city’s PM10 concentrations measured more than 400 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday. Photo: VCG

A traffic officer uses a drone to direct traffic during a sandstorm on Monday in Fuxin, Northeast China’s Liaoning province. Photo: VCG

Sand and dust obscure the sky on Monday in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The city’s PM10 concentration exceeded 660 micrograms per cubic meter at 4 p.m. that day, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Photo: VCG

The sand and dust tint the sky yellow in Beijing’s Tongzhou district on Monday. Photo: VCG

Vehicles drive through the swirling sand and dust Monday in Bayannuur, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Photo: VCG