This year, Beijing plans to upgrade some of the city's green belts with plants that have strong dust retention ability, in an effort to combat PM2.5 and improve air quality. 18 types of plants have been selected for the trial program.

After two years of spot monitoring on different areas of the city and statistical analyses, the Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture found that proper plantation for green belts could reduce the PM2.5 density by 10 to 20 percent. Based on the research findings, Beijing decided to plant more woody plants, shrubs and swards that have a strong capability to detain dust.

The 18 types of plants, selected out of more than 60, include acer truncatum, persimmon tree, Chinese scholar tree, ginkgo, heaven tree, catalpa bungei, juniper, gutta percha tree, Chinese white poplar, Koelreuteria, Robinia pseudoacacia, Prunus-cistena, clove tree ,Lespedeza, hibiscus, flowering plum, peony and Malus "Sparkler."

The Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture will first work with landscape design companies to set up experimental areas in Tongzhou, east suburb of Beijing, and later to promote these plants to a wider range of areas in the city.