Small steps by individuals are big strides forward

In response to a local initiative, some residents in Hefei in central China's Anhui province exchanged the fireworks they had bought for plants so they could reduce the air pollution rather than add to it.

In a frenzy to enjoy the unearthly beauty of the Lugu Lake in southwest Yunnan province, several holidaymakers drove their cars into the shoals of the lake. It seemed they only saw the splashes under the wheels, not the muddy water they stirred.

Hundreds of volunteers at famous national scenic spots, such as Mount Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou, helped tourists to do their sightseeing in a more civilized way.