Sand and dust blanketed the middle and western parts of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday, according to the regional observatory.

The sand and dust weather was caused by a cold snap, which also brought light snow to the eastern region and gales near the border between China and Mongolia.

The areas near the border have been suffering from relatively serious desertification and thus are vulnerable to this type of weather, but it has not formed sand storms yet, according to the observatory.

This weather will subside after the cold air passed on Tuesday night.

Due to the seasonal influences of cold air, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region suffers from abrupt climate changes in spring every year and the region is expecting more cold air on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2006)