Sept 22 is World Car-Free Day. The city of Zhanjiang launched a car-free campaign to encourage residents to choose green transportation such as public buses, bicycles and walking instead of driving private cars.

Zhanjiang has organized this kind of activity for nine years, since 2007.

More and more residents use bicycles since Zhanjiang's public bike system was launched in January this year. According to the Zhanjiang Housing and Urban Construction Bureau, there are about 12,000 people renting public bicycles every day and the number of people that ride private bicycles is also increasing. Green transportation has become popular among Zhanjiang residents.

"For me, every day is car-free day," said 59-year-old resident Zhou Xiaoping. "I commute by bike and even ride a bike for business. I can ride about 30 kilometers every day," he added.

He also said that the car-free campaign is very significant as it popularizes green transportation featuring low consumption, low pollution and low emission.

Fewer private cars are seen on the road in Zhanjiang on World Car-Free Day, Sept 22. [Photo/Zhanjiang Evening News]

Passengers take a free bus in Zhanjiang on World Car-Free Day, Sept 22. [Photo/Zhanjiang Evening News]

Residents ride public bicycles in Zhanjiang on World Car-Free Day, Sept 22. [Photo/Zhanjiang Evening News]