Campaign supporters at the Flood Control Monument, before starting out on the volunteer work in Harbin, Heilongjiang, on June 21. [Photo by Cai Meng/Xinhua]

At a time when most people were out lazily enjoying their Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a popular time for either travel or shopping, some 2,000 people from the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, set out on an environmental protection program of the urban management department, on June 21, coming from all levels of society, including civic servants, retired workers, businessmen, and cleaners and ranging in age from 1 year to 85.


Children looking for cigarette butts and scraps of paper, along the Songhua River, in Harbin, Heilongjiang, on June 21. [Photo by Wang Song/Xinhua]
 

Their task was to collect garbage and clean public facilities along the Songhua River, starting at the Flood Control Monument near Central Ave, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. And around 10,000 employees of stores that line the street got involved by trying to increase people’s awareness of the need for environmental protection.

As one of the volunteers, Tian Guiling, explained, “It’s a pioneering service, since more than 2,000 people are taking part,” then added that she hoped all the local people could get involved in environmental protection.

Li Chengku, a deputy city director, said that the campaign was a joint effort of all district governments, urban management, and law enforcement.