Frequent sandstorms, dry and dusty weather, and a lack of precipitation aggravated the situation last year, said Lanzhou Meteorological Centre's chief forecaster Yang Jiancai.

"Thirteen sandstorms hit the city last year, eight more than in 2005, and the precipitation level was 46 percent lower than in previous years. Also, the average annual temperature was 2 degrees Celsius higher than in previous years. All this and less cold air this winter have worsened air pollution," Yang said.

The number of vehicles in Lanzhou reached 232,000 last year, 26 per cent more than in 2005, increasing the volume of emissions. Added to that were widespread and large-scale demolitions in the urban area, Lu said.

The local government started air pollution control projects way back in the 1980s. And in 2005, it implemented a pollution control plan, Project 123, to change the fuel used in buses, taxis and boilers.

"We plan to make the buses and taxis shift from petrol or diesel and boilers from coal to natural gas, cleaner fuel, in one to three years, but the shortage of natural gas slowed down the plan," Lu said.

Statistics show that the city needs about 2.2 million cubic meters of gas a day, but the average supply only mounts to 1.8 million cubic meters.

To effectively and better control air pollution, the city took some serious and urgent steps at the end last year, Executive Vice-Mayor Wu Jide said.

"They include plans to build a concentrated heating system for urban residential and commercial areas, building more gas stations, research on and promotion of clean coal technology and planting more trees to improve the environment," Wu was quoted as having told Gansu Daily.

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