Construction will be suspended in Beijing during the winter heating season in an effort to improve the city's air quality, the Beijing Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development announced on Saturday.

Work at construction sites, including demolition and outdoor earthwork, which may generate dust, will be suspended from Nov 15 to March 15, the entire heating season.

The announcement of that ban follows the capital releasing its fifth emergency response protocols for air pollution on Friday, lowering the bar for manufacturing restrictions, amid other strict controls to tackle air pollution.