With over 2,600,000 motor vehicles, Beijing is worthy of the name, the city on four wheels. However, Beijingers are paying the price, and not just with their wallets, for the rising number of cars. There have been more traffic accidents, we have to suffer through more traffic jams, and we breathe dirtier air.

IMAGINE if car owners all stopped driving for a day...

Not only would the streets be less crowded, but also we'd have a much-needed break from the constant noise and air pollution.
 
Last month, more than 100 Beijing-based drivers' clubs jointly launched a campaign calling on local drivers not to use their cars for at least one day every month. The collective break will help reduce air pollutants by 44,000 tons a year.

So can divers cope for one day without their cars?

Most of those interviewed gave positive answers.

And today, which marks this year's World Environment Day, an estimated 200,000 drivers have taken part in the environment-conscious initiative and left their cars at home.

However, Mr Liu, although he is a big supporter of this collective effort, says the “No Car Day" campaign should not be just for show on this particular day.

"I've always had the idea to drive less, as the oil prices rise and the roads are getting more and more crowded. I hope drivers' environmental efforts won't be limited to today or just one day a month. For me, if possible, I will drive less."
 
And he also has good ways to deal with days without his car.

"If I don't drive, I choose to take public transportation. I think buses in Beijing are getting more and more convenient. I also think the idea of car pooling is great. All car owners driving their own cars on Beijing's roads have put great pressure on traffic flow and is also taking limited road space. So sometimes several of my colleagues and I take one car to work."

As Mr Liu describes, defending Beijing's Blue Skies requires the efforts of every one of us.