First ever red alert in Beijing over Smog

Stunning pictures shows China's deadly pollution has joined its Great Wall and it is the first time China has declared a red alert under the four-tier alert system, which was adopted a little over two years ago, although pollution levels were far from the city's worst.The first-ever red alert for smog was issued in Beijing on Monday as Chinese capital turned "hazardous" even as restrictions kept half of private cars in the city of over 22 million people off the roads and schools and construction sites closed.China’s pollution problem made international headlines before and during the 2008 summer olympics in Beijing. The Beijing municipal Environmental Mointoring centre said the smog would last intil Thursday evening when a strong cold wind would bring back clear skies.