NGO founder finds way to clear the air

Zhao Liang's volunteers gather evidence for oversight of polluters, engage in dialogue. Hou Liqiang reports.

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

When recalling the early days of Airman, an NGO he initiated in 2014 that mainly targets air pollution, Zhao Liang has many vivid memories of the struggles he faced.

With only a few volunteers to help, he often worked alone with nothing else but "a sense of smell, a pair of eyes and a smartphone". His enthusiasm, however, was always high.