China ABD and Pollution Levels

[abdgeek]

Can someone who has been on the China ABD during the summer months address what the pollution levels were during the trip and how they impacted the trip?

I plan to do this trip in the summer of 2015, but I'm having second thoughts given all the recent press and pictures about all of the pollution. I plan to book the trip in May when the new itineraries come out so I will have to find another trip to do if I decide not to do the China ABD.

My only concern about the trip is that I have allergies and one of my allergies is to smoke. While I realize that the pollution isn't exactly caused by smoke, some of the pictures I've seen of the haze makes me pause about trying to breathe(even through a mask) with all of that. Are my concerns unfounded? I know that much can happen in two years and that hopefully the air quality will improve dramatically by then. I know they cleaned it up for the Olympics and that they are saying it is hurting tourism.

 

[sayhello]

I'll be interested to see what people say. I have to admit that's been one of the things that has made me hesitant to take this trip.

Sayhello

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You are right to be concerned. I had a family member offered a job in China, which he did not accept; a huge concern was the pollution.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/...hildhood-china-pollution-eight-year-old-girl/

http://world.time.com/2013/10/21/kids-get-smog-day-as-pollution-shuts-down-chinese-city/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_in_China

China is not going to resolve this problem in 2 years.

 

[magicgirl]

I was there in April and we had no problems with smog . I believe that a lot of tours are organised to miss the worst times for smog. A lot of people in the cities do wear masks but I think it is more to do with the risk of infection. Visiting China was a fantastic experience which I would absolutely recommend.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was there in April and we had no problems with smog . I believe that a lot of tours are organised to miss the worst times for smog. A lot of people in the cities do wear masks but I think it is more to do with the risk of infection. Visiting China was a fantastic experience which I would absolutely recommend.

Please note that just because you can't see it, doesn't mean pollution is not present.

 

[conandrob240]

You may have been in smog and not even realized it. It at first almost seems like a very hazy foggy day. Then you realize it is actually bright and sunny but you are in a thick cloud of smog.

I visited China in July a few years ago and the smog/ pollution was horrible. Like nothing I have ever experienced. It made every day look dreary and , with mild asthma, I had a very hard time being out and about every day. I would never go back to China.

 

[sayhello]

Is it the entire country, or mainly big city areas?

Sayhello

 

[conandrob240]

Definitely the big cities but also outside big cities. It is from all the manufacturing facilities which are set up outside some if the big cities. " Made in China" has huge consequences that weren't so well thought out when they surged into mass production of goods.

 

[magicgirl]

You may have been in smog and not even realized it. It at first almost seems like a very hazy foggy day. Then you realize it is actually bright and sunny but you are in a thick cloud of smog.

I visited China in July a few years ago and the smog/ pollution was horrible. Like nothing I have ever experienced. It made every day look dreary and , with mild asthma, I had a very hard time being out and about every day. I would never go back to China.

We had blue skies and beautiful weather for most of our trip, we had rain in Shanghai. I do know what smog is and am unable to tolerate someone smoking in the same room as me without violent coughing and I had no trouble breathing. Just because your trip was bad does not mean I encountered the same problem or that I was unable to to be aware of what happened around me.

Again in response to the OP's question In April 2013 smog was not an issue or a problem.

 

[abdmom]

I took one of the first ABD China trips in May/June, 2008. Beijing seemed to be fine. But this was just before the Olympics and I'm sure they had been cleaning. They had instituted car restrictions in Beijing so that the smog would not be bad for the Olympics.

The smog in Shanghai was terrible. There is a dinner on the Bund, with a "view" of the city. One couldn't see a few hundred feet away because of the smog. The hotel we stayed at in Shanghai had black mold or soot coming out of the air vents. I couldn't wait to get out of Shanghai. I won't go back.

The intra-country flights were very bumpy. We were told this was because of the pollution.

My daughter was with me. She was 9 at the time. She has asthma, but she did not have an attack while we were there.

 

[Praise2Him]

I was in China in September (not ABD). One thing to note if you're allergic to smoke is that smoking is not discouraged in China like it is here. Many people smoke, and it's everywhere. There are few if any 'non-smoking' areas.

 

[conandrob240]

magic girl, chill. No need to get so defensive. I only said what I did because this was not like a smog I had ever experienced. At first, I just thought it was very hazy and overcast. When I had trouble breathing and I saw the clear skies outside of the city, I realized that it was not hazy or overcast at all, it was just smog. It was unexpected and not like I had experienced smog before.

My experience was in 2010 or maybe 2009 so I hope things have improved as you describe.

 

[sayhello]

Just a gentle reminder to keep things civil! (I think it has been so far, and I'd like it to stay that way!) This is one of the best-behaved Forums on the DIS, and I'd really love to keep it that way!

Thanks, all!
Sayhello

 

[spacecanada]

My parents visited China (on their own) and had a wonderful time. However, they do not recommend visiting China for anyone with respiratory ailments. Despite going during low smog season, they had trouble with the air quality and they are healthy. As much as I would like to visit China, I trust my parents' judgement and won't go there.

 

[bumbershoot]

Found this post semi-randomly. Posting to help, but I do apologize for what seems like a random bump.

DH was in China a few months back, in Shanghai and Beijing. The pollution was ghastly. He speaks Chinese and had time to talk to the people who lived there that he met. They wear the masks for their lungs. (some of DH's Korean relatives wear them for infection-fear reasons, but the Chinese people DH talked to said it was because of the air)

In a week he realized he hadn't seen one bird. He was talking to some local college-aged men and they said they hadn't seen a bird the entire time they lived there (I can't remember if this was Shanghai or Beijing)

The first time DH was in China on business he bought some serious filters and used them. He made a colleague take them when that colleague went. The colleague nearly left them because he thought DH was being silly, but he did end up using them. Even he was shocked.

Unless I were going to a totally rural area, I wouldn't go to China even though I sort of want to. My lungs are not strong enough to deal with it. And I'm not going to gamble that we'll have a lovely bout of weather like a previous poster did.



Dh was incredibly sad about the pollution. He grew bouncing around from Taiwan to mainland to Korea, to America...he lived in Taiwan as a schoolboy for a couple years. He loved it. And he cannot emotionally deal with what all of the uncontrolled industry has done to it. His lungs could barely handle it, even through the filter, and he has strong lungs. He knows I can't go there.

 

[sayhello]

Found this post semi-randomly. Posting to help, but I do apologize for what seems like a random bump.

DH was in China a few months back, in Shanghai and Beijing. The pollution was ghastly. He speaks Chinese and had time to talk to the people who lived there that he met. They wear the masks for their lungs. (some of DH's Korean relatives wear them for infection-fear reasons, but the Chinese people DH talked to said it was because of the air)

In a week he realized he hadn't seen one bird. He was talking to some local college-aged men and they said they hadn't seen a bird the entire time they lived there (I can't remember if this was Shanghai or Beijing)

The first time DH was in China on business he bought some serious filters and used them. He made a colleague take them when that colleague went. The colleague nearly left them because he thought DH was being silly, but he did end up using them. Even he was shocked.

Unless I were going to a totally rural area, I wouldn't go to China even though I sort of want to. My lungs are not strong enough to deal with it. And I'm not going to gamble that we'll have a lovely bout of weather like a previous poster did.

Dh was incredibly sad about the pollution. He grew bouncing around from Taiwan to mainland to Korea, to America...he lived in Taiwan as a schoolboy for a couple years. He loved it. And he cannot emotionally deal with what all of the uncontrolled industry has done to it. His lungs could barely handle it, even through the filter, and he has strong lungs. He knows I can't go there.

Thanks so much for your input, bumbershoot! *Please* don't apologize! I like to have all the information and opinions I can before making a decision like this. China is not a cheap ABD, and it's a *long* way to fly. I don't want to get there and not be able to breathe! (Or see the sights!) A part of me really wants to take this trip, but I am *really* hesitant, and the pollution is definitely one of the big reasons.

Sayhello

 

[Alesia]

You're probably worrying about nothing - it turns out that the smog is actually a good thing: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-gover...t--and-aid-to-national-defense-174649885.html

 

[sayhello]

You're probably worrying about nothing - it turns out that the smog is actually a good thing: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-gover...t--and-aid-to-national-defense-174649885.html

Sayhello

 

[abdgeek]

Thanks for everyone's input on the smog in China. Like sayhello, this is an ABD trip I want to take but I think I'll wait a couple of years to see if they can clean up their act. I can't wait to hear from the people who do ABD China in 2014 to see what their experiences are with the smog. As my brother reminded me, the US had a similar problem before they got their act together years ago. Maybe China will too.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks for everyone's input on the smog in China. Like sayhello, this is an ABD trip I want to take but I think I'll wait a couple of years to see if they can clean up their act. I can't wait to hear from the people who do ABD China in 2014 to see what their experiences are with the smog. As my brother reminded me, the US had a similar problem before they got their act together years ago. Maybe China will too.

Don't hold your breath.