China sells BOTTLED AIR to tourists as smog described as 'environmental crisis'



China is offering a breath of fresh air to tourists affected by its high pollution levels – with plans to sell bottles of oxygen.

In an attempt to address its dangerous smog levels - described as an environmental crisis by the World Health Organisation - canned air is due to hit the streets.

The bottles of air will to be manufactured as part of a tourism scheme by authorities in the southwestern Guizhou province.

Air in a bottle: Oxygen Bunnies hand out bottles of fresh air as part of a promotion in China

Promotion: Free bottles of fresh air are handed out in the city of Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province

Air from the area's eco-tourism zones such as Fanjing and Leigong mountains will be bottled, and on the shelves to be sold from June 20.

However, entrepreneurial types are already cashing in on the idea.



Costumed characters called Oxygen Babies have been giving away bottles, which are filled with air collected at the Tianmu mountain scenic spot in the county of Linan in Zhejiang province.

Dense smog: Pollution levels in China have been described as an environmental disaster by the WHO

Bottled: The air is collected at the Tianmu mountain spot in Linan county in Zhejiang province

They are expected to tour the country, promoting to the new products, which are currently free of charge, and were pictured in the city of Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province.

Product manager Long Peng said: ‘The air in Tianmu mountain is so fresh that negative oxygen ion is 3,300 per cubic centimetre, much higher than the normal level.

‘The problem is that there are not enough negative ions in daily life. All the modern things we have generate an overabundance of positive ions that make us feel tired, depressed and irritable.’

The inspiration for the idea reportedly came from tourist shops near Mount Fuji in Japan, where cans of fresh air have been a huge success.



Oxygen Bunnies: Bottles of fresh air are handed out to locals and tourists as part of a promotion in China

During a National Congress meeting, China's president, Xi Jinping, suggested Guizhou ‘sell cans in the future’, adding: ‘Air quality is now a deciding factor in people’s perception of happiness.’

However, it's not the first time bottle air has gone on sale in China. Last year, Chen Guangbiao, who made his fortune in the recycling business and is a high-profile philanthropist, claimed to have sold 10 million cans in just 10 days, as pollution levels reached a record high.

