
Millions of cars, motorbikes and lorries are being left on the scrap heap in China every year in a bid by the government to cut pollution levels.

In one scrap yard in the city of Hangzhou, an incredible 100,000 vehicles have piled up after being taken off the road because they did not meet the national emissions standard. A similar picture can be seen right across the country.

These amazing photographs on People's Daily Online show the sheer scale of China’s car graveyards.

From above, the eclectic collection of cars and trucks could almost be mistaken for the pieces of someone’s giant toy set.

Five and a half million cars will be scrapped this year because they are high emission vehicles, contributing £10.8bn to the recycling industry.

By 2020, it is estimated that 16 million vehicles will be ready for the scrap heap.

China’s booming car industry means some 154 million cars are now on the country’s congested roads. A massive 17 million were sold in 2014 alone, making up a quarter of global sales.

In an attempt to slow down car sales, Chinese authorities have cut the number of new vehicles that can be registered on the roads.

Last year the number of new registration plates available in Beijing fell from 240,000 to just 150,000.

It has been said that by 2017, only 90,000 plates will be issued for ordinary cars and the rest to eco-friendly cars.

Sea of metal: An aerial view of a junkyard in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province. As China is stepping up environmental protection levels to fulfill its commitment of curbing pollution, an increasing number of pollutive vehicles have been removed from roads and scrapped

Cars as far as the eye can see: Pictures of the junkyard in Hangzhou shocked Chinese netizens, with hundreds of thousands of vehicles piled high, including motorcycles, scooters, trucks and cars

Can you remember where we parked? China’s booming car industry means some 154 million cars are now on the country's congested roads. A massive 17 million were sold in 2014 alone, making up a quarter of global sales

Mangled: This picture from Hangzhou shows a stack of scrapped motorcycles and motor scooters. China is the world's leading motorcycle manufacturer, with an annual production volume of over 27 million two-and-three wheelers

A lot of work left: A solitary crane appears to sift through the multiple vehicle islands. In an attempt to slow down car sales, Chinese authorities have cut the number of new vehicles that can be registered on the roads

No escape: This panoramic shot shows the sheer scale of the HGVs that have been left for scrap in the Hangzhou junkyard as the country aggressively moves to fulfill its commitment of curbing pollution