Shanghai has been reportedly engulfed by acrid smog due to record pollution levels causing flight cancelations, shortages of face masks and rescheduling of plans of some expatriates to stay in the city.
The Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center measured the air quality index at 482 as of 6 p.m., and the United States Consulate gauged it at 503 at 2 p.m., while levels above 300 are considered "hazardous," the China Daily reports.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai Meteorological Department forecast showed that a cold front from northern China will bring winds to blow the dust particles out of the city by Monday.
The municipal authorities issued a notice in the afternoon to halt production at some industrial enterprises temporarily and at outdoor construction projects, and also took off one-in-three government cars off roads in a bid to reduce emissions.