A light dust storm descended on Lanzhou city, provincial capital of northwestern China's Gansu Province, on Tuesday evening. Meteorologists say the storm was mainly caused by relatively high temperatures, dry air and low rainfall.

 

Meanwhile, Lanzhou Morning Post reports severe sandstorms and strong winds hit two counties in Gansu called Minqin and Liangzhou on Tuesday afternoon. The sandstorm in Minqin lasted four hours, reducing visibility to only 600 meters.

 

The report says Minqin County suffers severe sandstorms on 29 days every year. It has become one of the major sources of dust and sand in northern China.

 

(CRI March 28, 2007)