Beijing hotels plan an hour in the dark to honor planet earth

The efforts succeed the hotel's blue sky program on March 4 in cooperation with the Worldwide Wildlife Fund for Nature, aimed at soliciting creative ideas for the effective control of urban air pollution and heavy smog solutions.

Rice says this is just a small part of the hotel's environmental protection efforts.

The China World Summit Wing, Beijing will join Earth Hour with an interesting sculpture project at its 79th-floor wine bar.

Made of empty mineral water bottles, the sculpture has sticks that will glow when people turn their handles, offering guests an interesting visual experience.

Over at the Kempinski Hotel Beijing, Earth Hour will start with a lighting of candles in the lobby where most of the lights will be turned off, joining millions of people worldwide in the annual campaign initiated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature in 2007.

Kempinski also offer guests new energy-saving bulbs in exchange for their used ones to encourage recycling.

The Westin Beijing Chaoyang will illuminate its environmental awareness by turning off exterior lighted signs, dimming non-essential lights inside the hotel and using candles at restaurants and bars.

It will also hold a candlelit party at the hotel lobby where guests can enjoy cocktails with soothing music.