A citizen rides in smog on December 20, 2016 in Jinan, Shandong Province of China. Air quality index (AQI) readings exceeded 400 and some schools have suspended classes in Jinan. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
A woman walks up the steps decorated ahead of the Chinese New Year festival in Beijing, China, Thursday, January 12, 2017. The Chinese Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for Chinese and hundreds of millions are expected to return to their hometown to spend the new year with their family and relatives. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)
Robot pianist Teo Tronico performs at the World Robot Conference (WRC) 2017 at Etrong International Exhibition & Convention Center on August 22, 2017 in Beijing, China. The World Robot Conference 2017 is held from August 23 to 27 in Beijing. (Photo by Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
File photo taken on July 24, 2011 shows the scenery of karst landform in Dacai Township under Maonan Autonomous County of Huaijiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The World Heritage Committee on Monday inscribed an extension of South China Karst, a natural World Heritage Site since 2007, into the UNESCO's World Heritage List. (Photo by Wang Xiufa/Xinhua)
This picture taken on September 9, 2014 shows a waiteress handing over food to customers at a prison themed restaurant in Tianjin. As more themed restaurants are popular in China, a “prison style” restaurent in Tianjin is aimed at reminding people to observe the law and to be good citizens. (Photo by Wang Zhao/AFP Photo)
In this picture taken on January 11, 2021, young gymnasts train at the Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School in Xiantao, Hubei province. This summer's delayed Tokyo Olympics, which are now due to start on July 23, 2021, will be the defining moment for Chinese gymnasts who have trained relentlessly since as young as age four in the pursuit of gold. (Photo by Nicolas Asfouri/AFP Photo)
A folk artist performs a stunning fire-pot performance on October 18, 2024 in Guangzhou,Guangdong Province of China.Huohu (fire pot) is a traditional folk performance art.Performers put well-burned charcoal into iron meshes on both sides and shake the meshes up and down so that the charcoal will flare up and blazing sparks will burst out of the meshes and light up the sky just like fireworks. (Photo by John Ricky/Anadolu via Getty Images)