Beijing issues orange alert 31 hours ahead of expected gloom to help people prepare

With a new round of smog likely to engulf Beijing and surrounding areas over the next three days, the city issued an orange alert - the second-highest warning level - on Saturday afternoon, 31 hours ahead of the expected gloom.

It was the second such alert issued within a few days, following a brief respite after last week's heavy smog was whooshed away by a cold weather front.