A cyclist secures her helmet before the "climate race" began on April 22. Yue Fenghua/ China Daily

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About 100 cyclists flashed through one of Beijing's embassy districts on April 22 as the Danish Embassy celebrated Earth Day by hosting a "climate race" . Actor Liu Ye joined Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen and three other European ambassadors Markus Ederer of the European Union, Theodore Georgakelos of Greece and Ante Simonic of Croatia for the three-kilometer ride. Fortune smiled on them by providing sunshine and a blue sky. After lunch, another group of 100 cyclists convened near the Ming Tombs for a more ambitious bike trek in the hills.

Petersen said such cycling is a key part of sustainable living for the future one of the goals Denmark has promoted during its presidency of the European Union. The ambassador noted that people in all walks of life including Denmark's future king, Crown Prince Frederik cycle to work and around the capital city, Copenhagen.

Several weeks before the Climate Race, the Danish embassy raised 30,000 yuan ($4,756) for local organizations advocating environmentalism in an online auction of Petersen's personal racing bike. The envoy handed over the first portion of the charity donation to representatives of the NGO Smarter than Cars on Sunday.