The pollution figures at the moment are staggering.Pollution is measured in the amount of small particulates in the atmosphere.
According to the Beijing authorities, measurements show the air containing more than 700 micrograms per cubic meter in many parts of the city over the weekend.
To put that into context, the World Health Organization considers it safe to only have as much just 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
There has been some controversy recently over whether the local readings were accurate or if officials were trying to understate the problem by giving lower readings.
| You see, they're only saying that it's 700 mcg per cubic meter when it's really 7000... |
In response, China announced it was illegal for foreign embassies to issues their own readings.
But the U.S. has said it would continue tweeting air pollution levels in China, as they were helpful for US nationals living and traveling abroad.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing tweeted over the weekend that its hourly readings were "beyond index."
The highest number it got on its data was the equivalent of a massive 886 micrograms per cubic meter.