Wang Jianqiong likes to fry his food, but while at work in the China Global Atmosphere Watch Baseline Observatory, he must refrain from his favorite cooking method.

The observatory, on Mount Waliguan in Northwest China's Qinghai province, is one of 31 global baseline observatories established by the World Meteorological Organization.

Located 3,816 meters above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, the observatory was built 23 years ago to monitor levels of ozone and greenhouse gases.