Most areas in northern China saw another day of choking smog and poor visibility as the country renewed the orange alert for air pollution.

Moderate to heavy smog will stay in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as some areas in Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Liaoning provinces on Saturday, with visibility of less than 200 meters, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The poor visibility has caused widespread flight delays and cancellations at Beijing Capital International Airport. The NMC forecasts a cold front that will help disperse the smog toward the end of the day.

After experiencing frequent bouts of smog, the Chinese public has become increasingly sensitive to the health hazard.

To address public concerns, the government aims to cut the density of inhalable particulate matter by at least 10 percent in major cities by 2017.