BEIJING, Feb. 3 (China Space News) — China released first images captured by the nation's most sophisticated observation satellite Gaofen-4 on Wednesday.

Each of the images, released by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), covers an area of at least 400 km.

One image taken on Jan. 21 showed Beijing and neighboring areas were covered by heavy smog while another clear image of the same region was taken on Jan. 25, when the smog dispersed.

Other images feature Nam Co in Tibet Autonomous Region, the world's highest saltwater lake, the Yellow River delta and a forest fire in south Australia.

The Gaofen-4 satellite was launched on Dec. 29 as China's first geosynchronous orbit HD optical imaging satellite. Currently it is in good condition and capturing stable images, according to the SASTIND.