China to Sell Canned Fresh Air as Pollution Heightens (VIDEOS)

It won't be long before fresh air starts getting to be a luxury item in China. In fact, a Chinese entrepreneur had already thought of canning fresh air, similar to sodas in cans, and selling them to his fellowmen as heavy smog again griped China for the second time this month.

Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese billionaire whose wealth, according to the Hurun Report, is at $740 million, has concocted the idea of fresh air in cans and sells them for five yuan each (AU$0.77; US$0.80).

But Mr Chen stressed he is not out to make money of the crippling situation that grips China's environmental situation these days.

"If we don't start caring for the environment then after 20 or 30 years our children and grandchildren might be wearing gas masks and carry oxygen tanks," Mr Chen said.

"I've worked in environmental protection industry for a decade . . . and I bear witness to the fact that pollution is getting worse and worse."

"More disasters are taking place every year," he said. "2012 did not bring the end of the world but if human beings keep consuming resources, keep polluting the environment, I think Doomsday will arrive."

The extremely high pollution that has clouded China has forced airline companies to cancel flights because of poor visibility.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in China reported smog hit a peak level of PM2.5 at 526 micrograms per cubic metre, or "beyond index."

According to Xinhua News Agency, 100 flights were cancelled in the eastern city of Zhengzhou, 33 in Beijing, 20 in Qingdao and 13 in Jinan, at a time when the Chinese New Year is barely two weeks away. Air China has likewise been reported to have cancelled 14 domestic flights in and out of Beijing airport.

"We thought flying would be the best way to avoid the crush but if the weather continues like this we'll be in real trouble," Ren Haiqiang, a resident of Beijing, said.