The first smogation?

Back in mid December 2016, China, and Beijing in particular, was experiencing some incredibly high air pollution levels: see for example:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/17/beijing-smog-pollution-red-alert-declared-in-china-capital-and-21-other-cities
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/21/smog-refugees-flee-chinese-cities-as-airpocalypse-blights-half-a-billion

One cold, smoggy evening I had taken refuge in the Plan B Bar, located in the Shuangjing district of the city and was discussing the smog problem with some bar regulars. We often gathered there so the owner, Trevor, could show us the 'real' AQI  (Air Quality Index) levels as obtained from the US embassy.

One of the assembled party taught in an international school, located nearby, and he explained that the school was closed on government orders so that the pupils would reduce exposure to such dangerous levels of pollution. This enforced closure had been reported in the news, and some of my university students had protested that it was unfair that they had to keep coming to classes.

I asked this acquaintance why he didn't get out of the city, as many people were doing; he explained that could be called back to work with very short notice so travelling wasn't an option. A somewhat limited staycation then, we laughed... or even a smog-cation....