Beijing smog watch: Tuesday July 29

Jul 29 - With ten days to go before the start of the Olympics, Beijing is still suffering from smog, but is showing improvement.

On Tuesday, the iconic Bird's Nest national stadium in Beijing was visible again. The stadium had been shrouded in smog for days previously, despite final attempts to turn the smokey and dusty Chinese capital into the promised pollution-free Olympic venue.

The Beijing Ministry for Environmental Protection was showing the Chinese Air Pollution Index (API) on Tuesday as between API 51 and 71. This figure is valid up until 1200 local (0300 GMT) when a new reading is usually registered. This range counts as a "blue sky day".

The authorities have ordered many cars off roads and halted much construction and factory production in an effort to cut smog before the Games open.

The temperature on Tuesday was forecast to be around 34 degrees Celsius with 69 percent humidity, but rain is forecast, which many in Beijing hope will clear the smog.