China sandstorm: Xi'an covered in yellow haze

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Yellow haze over cityImage source, Hua Shang Daily
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A yellow, sandy haze has covered the city of Xi'an, China. The area was hit by a sandstorm at the weekend that brought low visibility and strong winds

Image source, NurPhoto
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Sandstorms are caused by very strong winds that pick up large amounts of sand and blow them through the air. They're quite common near sandy areas, like deserts

Image source, Hua Shang Daily
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The storms created issues for people trying to travel, and emergency workers had to rescue people who were stranded by the storms. Because of all the sand in the air, it was very difficult for drivers to see where they were going

Image source, NurPhoto
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The Shaanxi Provincial Meteorological Observatory had put out a yellow weather warning for sandstorms, telling people to be careful when outside

Image source, NurPhoto
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Some tourists visiting Xi'an wore facemasks to protect themselves from the sand in the air. Shaanxi is very popular with tourists, as it is home to the Bingmayong - also known as the famous Terracotta Army