Caution urged as capital's pollen levels remain high

Videos showing large whirls of pollen being blown into the air from cypress trees in Beijing have sparked widespread discussion, with netizens commenting that the high pollen concentration has left people who have allergies worried.

In the capital's Temple of Heaven Park, where 33,000 cypress trees grow, strong winds have caused large amounts of yellow pollen to scatter like a sandstorm.

"Cypress pollen is produced by male plants for propagation and is very light. As the air is relatively dry and precipitation scarce this year, a gust of wind can easily carry away the pollen, which appears like wisps of smoke on a sunny day," Zhang Hui, a senior engineer from the park's landscaping department, told Beijing Radio and Television Station.

Since March 19, pollen concentration has reached high levels in many areas of Beijing, where more than 4 million cypress trees grow in urban areas. According to the pollen allergy index released by Weather China, the city's pollen concentration exceeded 800 grains per square millimeter on Sunday and is expected to remain high this week.

Meteorological authorities said the concentration is highly likely to cause allergic reactions and advised people to reduce outdoor activities and continue to take medicine as needed. Some residents have reported symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes.

Chen Hejing, a university student, said she had never been allergic to pollen before, but recently she has been sneezing, experiencing a runny nose and suffering from a dry, sore throat at night, which has lasted for a week.

"Some of my friends have symptoms so severe that their eyes are swollen shut," she said.

While some social media users have suggested cutting down cypress trees and planting alternatives, landscape designer Wan Chengxue said that is not a rational decision.

"Cypresses are a native species to Beijing, with low cost, easy maintenance and high survival rates," he said. "Cypresses release pollen in the spring as part of their natural life cycle. While trees are essential to urban environments, they can sometimes conflict with human activities. It is important to recognize that no tree species is perfect for every situation."

Cong Richen, a senior engineer at the Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture, told CCTV News that evergreen species account for about 30 percent of Beijing's urban greenery and simply cutting them down is not feasible. "Due to climate constraints, there are very few evergreen species in Beijing, besides pines and cypresses," he said.

According to the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau, the city has intensified pollen control efforts by spraying water on cypress trees in key parks and forest areas three times a day to reduce pollen concentrations. The city has also revised its catalog of major trees in the capital, pledging that it will no longer plant male cypresses in future landscaping projects and will cultivate female cypresses that do not release pollen.

Han Jinshuai, a doctor from the department of otolaryngology at Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, said that to prevent pollen allergies, the public should limit outdoor activities, particularly during the morning and evening when pollen levels are at their peak. When going out, it's suggested to wear masks, glasses, as well as long-sleeved clothing to reduce exposure of the skin and respiratory system to pollen.