A primary school in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, has been accused of misguidance after it asked students to do anti-smog exercises for more than two months, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Wei Huanqiang, deputy director of the teaching affairs office with Guangminglu Primary School, said the exercises, which involve 23 movements, can help children eliminate toxins from their lungs by pressing special acupuncture points.

The school asked the pupils to do the exercise twice a day in the classrooms during breaks.

But parents and residents doubt if it works.

"If the school said it was physical exercise that is one thing, but how does the exercise get rid of toxins in the lung? Are they kidding?" asked a local resident.

And Liu Erjun, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor from No 1 Hospital Affiliated to Hebei University of Medical Science, said there was no definite proof that the exercise eliminated toxins.