The Attack Of The Catkins In Beijing

Just when you thought it was safe to roam the streets of Beijing without a mask, members of the public in China's capital have been terrorised by an army of floating white fluff. In fairness, it makes an interesting change to complain about ingesting airborne seeds as opposed to the toxic chemicals from pollution.

Each year, as Beijing makes the rather quick transition from spring to the blistering heat of summer, the trees disperse a freakishly high quantity of poplar seeds, which bombard the air with dancing white balls of fluff. It would almost look like a beautiful snow flurry, however there is something very sinister about these cotton-like wisps.

If I could offer some advice on how to deal with these levitating beasts, it would be to cover all of your orifices. It appears that the seeds' main aim is to bury deep into the nostrils of unsuspecting people while forcing everyone to make embarrassing contortions and flap their hands about as they battle their way through the onslaught of kamikaze catkins.

Sadly, the camera on my phone was unable to capture the true extent of horror that the flying brutes create.

This short period shall now be referred to, as “Fluffageddon” and is truly a hay fever sufferer’s nightmare. The seeds are called "杨絮"(Yáng xù) in Chinese which ironically, could sound like a sneeze if pronounced by a Chinese-learner like myself. Thankfully, this challenging time does not last too long and very soon, my mask will return to its chief duty of filtering out smog fumes.

   
Tôi bị dị ứng phấn hoa, vì thế vào đầu mùa xuân, mắt của tôi hay bị đỏ và sưng lên.
Bây giờ ở Bắc Kinh có rất nhiều hoa đuôi sóc, vì thế vào những ngày có gió thì thật khó chịu.