On June 21, as part of Beijing's goal of cutting down on energy use over the summer, the well-known rainbow decorations on Chang'an Avenue remained unlit for two hours, reported Xinhua. Between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., portions of the main road, including Lijiao Overpass and two constructions usually lit up in rainbow colors remained dark. Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Zhengzhou, and other Chinese cities also took part in the worldwide activity promoting a one-hour blackout in order to raise awareness about the global environment.

Zhengzhou February 7 Memorial Tower before (L) and after (R) the scheduled blackout (Photo credit: Yue Yuewei/Xinhua)