Sand and dust shroud the corner tower of Forbidden City in Beijing on Sunday, as the Chinese capital was hit by its second sandstorm in two weeks. Photo: VCG

A resident walks down a pedestrian street Sunday during the sandstorm. Photo: Chen Wanting/Caixin

A couple holding hands crosses the street during the sandstorm, which originated in southern Mongolia. The storm swept across 13 provincial-level regions in China, authorities said, affecting about 240 million people. Photo: Chen Wanting/Caixin

The sandstorm shrouded the sky at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Photo: Cai Yingli/Caixin

A resident crosses a street in the Fangzhuang area in Beijing. Photo: Chen Wanting/Caixin

A woman sings during a choir practice that took place amid the pollution. Photo: Chen Wanting/Caixin

A woman covers her face with a scarf. On Friday, the China Meteorological Administration issued a yellow alert for the sandstorm, the lowest on the country’s three-tier system. Photo: Chen Wanting/Caixin

Dust obscures the sky over the Forbidden City in Beijing. Photo: Sheng Jiapeng/China news Service/VCG