Though heavy snowfall is no novelty in Shenyang, capital of the cold northeastern province of Liaoning, citizens are delighted to see the snow has remained white on the ground for days.  

"In the past, it would soon turn dark and muddy, mixed with dirt in the air and on the ground," said a taxi driver. "This year, the air quality in the city is much better and we can see blue sky most of the days."

Shi Qijin, director of the Shenyang Environmental Protection Bureau, said on Tuesday the air quality in Shenyang had reached level I or II, representing "excellent" and "fairly good" on the air pollution scale, on 292 days this year.

"This shows we have got pollution under control," said Shi. "Shenyang is now an 'exemplary' city of good air quality."

According to standards set by the State Environmental Protection Administration, cities with air quality reaching level I or II on at least 292 days a year -- or 80 percent of the time --are dubbed "exemplary."

Shenyang, a traditional industrial base that is home to a number of China's heavy industrial enterprises, was known as one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Starting from last year, the city demolished most of its landmark chimneys and exercised strict control over vehicle exhaust, soot and dust, in an effort to clear its sky and draw foreign investment and professionals to bolster its development.

"We have demolished 2,234 chimneys over two years," said Shi. "And we have popularized pollution-free fuels and cut soot exhaust by 14,750 tons."

Local hospitals have reported a seven percent fall in the number of patients with respiratory complaints, which is attributed by many doctors to the better air quality.

"The citizens' health is improving, and more people are exercising in the fresh morning air," said a medical expert.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2003)