Capital turns off and tunes in to Earth Hour's eco-message

Earth Hour, an annual event aimed at highlighting energy conservation, attracted more support than ever across the capital on Saturday - but not without a dose of criticism too.

Major landmarks in 85 Chinese cities, including the Bird's Nest in Beijing and sections of the Great Wall, were pitched into darkness between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm to raise awareness of the need for environmental protection.

In Wangjing, roughly 2,000 residents signed a board pledging their commitment to protecting the planet, while advertising displays at more than 70 shops were switched off. "We also held a costume show to raise awareness of choosing environmentally friendly materials when buying clothes," said a worker in Wangjing's area management office who gave only his surname as Liao.