Visibility Deteriorates as Pollution Cloaks China’s Capital

A surveillance camera points at a terrace of a shopping mall overlooking the skyline of the Central Business District on a polluted day in Beijing, China, on Nov. 5, 2021. Thomas Peter/Reuters

BEIJING—Visibility in parts of Beijing was less than 219 yards on Friday as heavy pollution shrouded the Chinese capital, forcing the closures of some highways.

Beijing issued its first heavy pollution alert for the fall and winter on Thursday, requiring the suspension of some outdoor construction, factory operations, and outdoor school activities.