BEIJING - The Beijing Meteorological Bureau Wednesday issued a warning urging citizens to prepare for dust storms as strong winds from the north start to kick up sand and grit.
The bureau said winds would rise to force five and six in coming days.
It was the second warning this month for dust storms, which have hit China's northern region with increasing ferocity every spring, choking urban and rural areas with clouds of swirling yellow dust.
In recent years, sandstorms originating in northern China have sent clouds of dust floating eastward over the Korean peninsula and as far away as Japan.
Years of tree-felling and overgrazing along northern China's arid plains have led to desertification throughout the region and are seen as one of the main causes of the storms.
03/23/2005 06:27 GMT