Many parts of northern and northwestern China were bracing for two more days of sandstorms as senior leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, joined 2 million people to plant saplings in Beijing yesterday to combat the change in climate.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has forecast severe sandstorms in Nanjiang Basin of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and western parts of Gansu Province over the next two days. Beijing, however, will not be hit by any of the storms.

The CMA has forecast that 11 to 15 sandstorms are likely to hit North and Northwest China this spring.