Hazy car culture erodes green Earth

If green is the new gold for many people in the world, the favorite color in Shanghai would be anything that is hazy, like the obscure sky in the city.

Which is why the 40th World Earth Day last Wednesday went totally unnoticed in the metropolis, while the Chinese Grand Prix and Auto Shanghai 2009 ignited a public frenzy.

The thousands of cars leaving the Shanghai circus after the Formula One race caused an hour-long jam last Sunday. And, last Wednesday, 68,000 visitors flocked the auto show on its first public day, all trying get a peek at the posh cars and foxy women leaning on the sedans.