With better air quality and a shorter rush hour, everything seems good so far in Beijing as the capital prepares to host the APEC meeting.

"It felt so good to see the clear sky and breathe fresh air when I was sitting in the bus in the morning rush hour," said Shi Chao, a 28-year-old who commutes about 50 kilometers every day.

The smooth traffic on the North Third Ring Road, which usually experiences traffic jams, greatly lightened his mood, he said.