The camera pans up.
The whole sky is an eerie orange, and everyone has masks, caps, googles or shades on.
Sounds like a scene from a post apocalyptic movie kan?
Well, it's real and it happened in Beijing.
A major sandstorm hit the Chinese capital on 15 March with experts saying that it was the worst sandstorm to hit the area in a decade.
Check out some pictures from that dust-filled day.
Beijing’s colour today. Reminds me of SF’s colour during the fire last year. Same Bladerunner 2049 energy, different environmental disasters.
— Jen Zhu (@jenzhuscott) March 15, 2021
Dust Sand Storm & Desertification (DSSD) in the north + west China has to be outpaced by the efforts of building a Green Great Wall. ? pic.twitter.com/hH7NraXwyK
Beijing under #Sandstorm , the New building of @CGTNOfficial and Corner Tower @PalaceMuseum_ pic.twitter.com/NNh1RnHsy9
— Tong Bingxue 仝冰雪 (@tongbingxue) March 15, 2021
Visit Wootrade’s partner in #Beijing
— Audrey Yang (@vivi3492) March 15, 2021
Encountered the biggest sandstorm in almost a decade? pic.twitter.com/ThHhiB2coz
According to a report by BBC, hundreds of flights were cancelled as pollution levels in some districts spiked at 160 times the recommended limit.
The sand is said to have been brought by winds from Mongolia.
The good news is that the situation has already improved tremoundously today.
Today Yesterday
— Tong Bingxue 仝冰雪 (@tongbingxue) March 16, 2021
Beijing is back after
a heavy sandstorm
YuYuanTan Park, west of Beijing. pic.twitter.com/a1AWtI76w8
Hopefully it stays that way.#Beijing: Yesterday (largest #sandstorm in a decade), Today (clear)#sandstorms filter pic.twitter.com/PegXdNSEMu
— Anshuman Mishra (@anshu13) March 16, 2021