In Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, the air was full of dust, forcing people to run for cover.

The local meteorological station said the sandstorm first appeared in the northwest part of the province on Tuesday afternoon and moved southeast towards the capital.

The wind speed in Lanzhou reached 7 to 8 meters per second. Meteorologists said the sandstorm would not severely affect people's lives or farming, and rain expected around midnight Thursday would dampen down the dust.

(People's Daily February 21, 2003)