The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) for Lanzhou city, capital of Gansu province, remained categorized as “poor” for 19 days so far in November.

In the face of these challenges, Lanzhou local authorities are taking steps to try to limit air pollution. The city has implemented an odd-even license plate traffic ban from Nov 20. This means private vehicles will only be allowed on the roads on alternating days. A similar traffic rule has been applied in Beijing in the past.

The traffic ban will not end until the Lanzhou Air Pollution Control Office removes its orange alert, the second most severe on the four-tiered color-coded system.

During the odd-even traffic ban period, free buses will be available to local residents.

On Nov 20, the first day of traffic ban in Lanzhou, the AQI reading was 172 by 4:00 pm, slightly less than the AQI reading for the previous day. As the thermometer has dropped in November, the heating has been turned on and so more electricity needs to be produced, combined with cars, and dust, this has resulted in reduced air quality.

“The air quality is influenced by many elements especially the weather,” said an employee from Lanzhou environmental protection bureau. “We will keep on tracking the data to see where it goes in the coming days,” the employee added.

Official statistics show that there are approximately 880,000 vehicles on the roads in Lanzhou. According to the environmental protection bureau, the particulate emissions from cars in the city reaches 2,000 tons per year.

An employee from Lanzhou Air Pollution Control Office pointed out that, the emissions are expected to decrease by 30 percent after the implementation of odd-even license plate traffic ban.

During the odd-even traffic ban period, free buses are available to local residents. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Lanzhou announces implementation of an odd-even license plate traffic ban from Nov 20, to curb emissions. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]