Meteorologists say sandstorms are becoming less common in most regions of northern China.  

Experts from the national Meteorological Administration say data gathered over the past 50 years show the weather has calmed down in most regions of northern China, except some areas in Qinghai Province, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The sandstorms usually hit northern regions in spring, smothering people with dust and coating everything with a pale brown layer of grit.

(CRI August 13, 2004)