
China has been cracking down on high-emission transport in an effort to reduce the overwhelming smog in cities, resulting in a vast number of scrapyards and recycling sites containing thousands of abandoned buses, cars and trucks.

Gigantic mounds of transport vehicles that do not meet the minimum emissions standards have formed at landfill sites.

The initiative was sparked by reports of Beijing being over 20 times the air pollution limit considered healthy by the World Health Organisation, with emissions from vehicles accounting for 31.1 per cent of toxic air in the capital.

Damaged cars, motor cycles and electric bicycles are seen stacked at a scrapyard in Hangzhou in China

Most of those vehicles in the city were impounded after breaking traffic laws, and now lie abandoned in the scrapyards

The government has been pushing for green upgrades to vehicles and has set carbon-cutting targets, in response to the threat of the air becoming hazardous to residents.

The extent of the problem can be seen in Hangzhou, one of China's most picturesque cities, which registered 239 days of smog in 2013, equating to almost 90 days more than the annual average.

Over 40 per cent of the air pollution in the city is caused by vehicle emissions, which reflects the recent boom in residents' incomes and rise in private car ownership.

From January, new transport vehicles have to comply with National Standard IV fuels that theoretically guarantees seven times fewer sulphur emissions than the previous standard for diesel and three times less for gasoline.

Currently the purer fuel represents three per cent of the market in China, due to the lack of availability, forcing residents to continue to run on low-grade, high-emissions fuels.

The affluent society has seen a fourfold increase in income over the last 15 years and there is currently one car for every two people in the city, with a lack of high-quality fuels causing the dense smog.

In an effort to reduce the dangerous air pollution, the mayor recently announced the introduction of 2,500 green public transport vehicles.

There is already a city-wide metro service on offer, but Hangzhou's escalating middle class prefer private cars.

The picturesque city registered 239 days of smog pollution in 2013, equating to almost 90 days more than the annual average

Damaged trucks and vans seen stacked at a scrapyard in Hangzhou failed to comply with National Standard IV fuels

Currently the purer fuel only represents three per cent of the market in China, due to the lack of availability, forcing residents to continue to run on low-grade, high-emissions fuels

The affluent society has seen a fourfold increase in income over the past 15 years and there is currently one car for every two people in the city, with a lack of high-quality fuels causing dense smog

In an effort to reduce the dangerous air pollution, the mayor of Hangzhou recently announced the introduction of 2,500 green public transport vehicles

Over 40 per cent of the air pollution in the city is caused by emissions, causing a cry for greener transport

Motorcycles and scooters fill a scrapyard in Guangzhou where authorities have banned all powered bikes, including electric bicycles

Thousands of old transport vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards form gigantic mounds

The government has been pushing for green upgrades to vehicles and has set carbon-cutting targets, in response to the threat of the air becoming hazardous to residents

Buildings at Lujiazui are shrouded in smog in Shanghai, China. Heavy smog in the city has been responsible for disrupting traffic, worsening air pollution and forcing the closure of schools

A woman and her son wearing masks walk along a road as heavy smog engulfs the city in Changchun. Schools and an airport have closed in the past due to heavy smog

A thermal power plant discharging fumes into the air in Changchun. China has cleaned up its air before but experts say that if it wants to avoid this kind of smog, it must overhaul an economy fuelled by heavily polluting coal and car use

Covered up: A man and his child wear masks as they visit The Bund in Shanghai, with thick smog behind

A shocking photo from 2014 shows an LED screen shows the rising sun on the Tiananmen Square which is shrouded with heavy smog in Beijing



