Whenever we use energy from gas or coal, lots of pollution is produced, too. Sadly, the Chinese have not switched to using energy (sun or wind-powered) that is healthier for the environment and the people.
Back home, I always check the weather before deciding what to wear that day. In China, I always check the air quality in Wenzhou before deciding whether I need to wear a face mask or not that day. Since air quality in the city is so poor, face masks have slowly become a fashion statement and you can even get different designs in different colors!
The government is also building more metro lines, and limiting the number of cars that can be out driving based off of license plates. Let me explain: the Chinese license plate has a Chinese character (word) followed by a series of letters or numbers. In Beijing, the country's capital, those with a license plate ending in an even number can drive only on certain days (for example, on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday). In other cities, only drivers whose cars have a specific Chinese character can drive on the highway at rush hour.
It is very difficult to even get a license plate, here! You have to enter a monthly lottery and then get very, very lucky. In Beijing, there are 3 million people competing for 7,000 license plates, so the chances of getting one are low!
The Chinese are also planting more trees and flowers all over the city. They also tear down old homes to make way for new green parks! One thing for sure about the Chinese is that they never stop trying to figure out solutions to the problem of pollution and traffic jams in their cities!
