Schools, expressways closed in northern China as authorities ponder smog

Beijing International Airport in heavy smog on Tuesday morning. [Photo from Weibo]

The visibility at the Capital International Airport is 500 meters and numerous flights have been delayed. For outgoing flights, only 61.35 percent took off on time while 81.59 percent of incoming flights landed as scheduled, according to veryzhun.com, a real time flight tracker.

Flight CZ3119, which was heading to Beijing, prepares to land in Shenyang airport, 700 km northeast from Beijing, due to Beijing's severe smog on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Many flights heading to Beijing on Monday have been diverted to nearby airports in Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and Shenyang, Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

Flight CZ3119, which was heading to Beijing, temporarily lands in Shenyang airport, 700 km northeast from Beijing, due to Beijing's severe smog on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Photos and postings of the severe pollution dominated Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like blogging site in China.

"I can go out without makeup today, since nobody will notice it (in the severe smog)," Zhang Quanling, former China Central Television anchorwoman, joked on Sina Weibo.