A public campaign to increase awareness of environmental protection has just kicked off in China.

A group of environmentalists are driving from Beijing to Hong Kong to bring the environmental message to China.

Deputy Secretary General of China Environmental Protection Foundation, Zhou Guiling, hopes more ordinary Chinese will get involved in protecting the environment as the campaign reaches the big cities in the six provinces on it's route.

"People in big cities tend to accept the idea of environmental protection faster. So we think it is better that we start with the big cities. It takes steps to make all the people realize the importance of environmental protection," said Zhou. 

Renowned anchor woman of Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, Sally Wu, is one of the three ambassadors for the campaign, along with Olympic champion Liu Xiang and the CEO of China's leading web portal Sina.com, Wang Yan.

Wu says environmental protection should be everybody's responsibility. "Only when the environment we live in is healthy and safe, can we human beings be healthy and safe. I think everybody should do a bit in everyday life to protect the environment."

The campaign motorcade left Beijing on Sunday and is expected to return to the city in 14 days.