South China's Guangzhou city held an environment-friendly bag sale on Sunday, the day when a national ban forbidding retailers from providing free plastic bags came into effect, so as to raise money for the relief work in China's quake-hit areas.

A volunteer promotes the environment-friendly bag to a girl in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on June 1, 2008. The earnings from these bags will be donated to the May 12 earthquake victims.

All the money raised from the sale will be sent to Guangdong Charity Federation, and then donated to areas devastated by the May 12 earthquake, according to a report by local newspaper Yangcheng Evening News.

Eighteen supermarkets and department stores provided locations for the sale, and students from 11 schools joined the volunteer team to promote the event, which won high praise from residents since it is not only good for the environment but also helpful to the quake victims.

(CRI June 2, 2008)