Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

WITH a ceremonial closure of Xinghua Road at 2 p.m., the 2020 Shekou Car Free Day was launched in Shekou, Nanshan District, on Saturday.

Some 100 families spread their picnic mats on the road section of about 500 meters, selling usable clothes, toys, books, shoes, bags and household items at cheap prices.

Meanwhile, more than 20 small training institutions set up booths on the road, offering a full range of activities, including basketball shooting, archery, boxing, yoga, painting, flower arrangements, piano playing and dancing for local residents.

The activities were also spiced up with art performances in the theme of environmental protection and social distancing amid the pandemic.

The fully closed section of Xinghua Road started from the junction of Taizi Road in the west and ended at the junction of Kangle Road in the east. The semi-closed section of Gongye Road 3 started from the junction of Taizi Road in the north and Xinghua Road in the south. The temporary road closures ended at 6 p.m.

“This is the fifth time that we held the Shekou Car Free Day. Every year, we want to turn this Car Free Day that promotes low-carbon lifestyle into a carnival in Shekou, to close a road section and give it to our people to revel in,” said Zhang Xiaohai, secretary general of Shekou Community Foundation.

According to Zhang, “Happy Bay Area People” was the theme of this year’s Shekou Car Free Day, as it is hoped that everyone can be happy and break free from the depression brought about by the pandemic.

“I think it is a very nice activity. There are no vehicles on the road and only people interacting with each other and having fun,” said Tom Harvey, an American who has been living in Shekou for six years.

The Shekou Car Free Day was first launched in 2016. The activity aims to promote greener methods of travel and create a friendly and welcoming community. The event was hosted by Shekou Community Foundation and co-organized by Shenzhen Women and Children’s Development Foundation and Shenzhen Ageing Development Foundation.