On November 15, 2004, Wang Jirong, vice director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), led a team of officials to the top floor of the CCTV tower in western Beijing. They were there to look at the city's boiler chimneys and identify those belching black-smoke. Under the blue sky, the visibility was extremely good, at around 30 kilometers. But when Wang's eyes shifted to the west, he coul not help noticing a massive smoke cap,