Beijing ends pollution curbs

The drastic restrictions had taken half of Beijing8217;s 3.3 million private vehicles off the road and shuttered dozens of polluting factories. Dust-spewing construction in the capital had been halted.

The sweeping anti-pollution curbs, along with a spate of good weather, combined to keep skies clear and dirty air in check to the relief of Chinese and Olympic officials.

The spate of genuinely blue skies gave Beijing8217;s 17 million residents a chance to experience clear summer skies as the city recorded its lowest pollution levels for the month of August in 10 years.