Photo taken on March 16, 2016 shows the surroundings of Guomao Bridge in Beijing, capital of China (XINHUA)

Beijing and environs will be smothered in a haze of filth again this week, as level-5 air pollution makes an unwelcome Spring return to the Chinese capital.

Air Quality Index (AQI) readings could hit 300 in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province on March 17 and 18, according to the Beijing Municipal Environment Monitoring Center.

As temperatures rise, dispersal of foul air becomes more difficult. Parts of north China have been smogbound since the start of this week. Beijing made it to level-5 on the morning of March 16, the center said.

The situation will improve on March 19 and the smog should be gone by next March 22, according to the center forecast.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2016)