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Beijing’s clear blue skies come at an uncomfortable cost
The price of fresh air in China’s biggest cities is borne by rural villages struggling through another winter without adequate heating.
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Ms Liu (right) and her neighbour walking through wheat fields still dormant in winter on a January afternoon in a village in Baoding, Hebei province, China.
ST PHOTO: YEW LUN TIAN
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Anyone who last visited Beijing a decade ago and returns today is struck by the difference: bluer skies, cleaner air.
On most days, there is no need for a mask or an air purifier – no scratch in the throat, no sting in the eyes, no hesitation before drawing a deep breath.
