The vehicles that do not meet exhaust emissions standards will be eliminated. According to a report from environmental authorities, 31.1 per cent of air pollution in Beijing has come from vehicle exhaust.

"Of the vehicles to be eliminated this year, 20 per cent are in the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin as well as neighbouring Hebei Province, all northern regions frequently troubled by smoggy air in recent years," state-run Xinhua news agency said.

In a further step, more vehicles will be scrapped next year, involving up to five million units in the nation's economically developed regions, such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, according to an action plan published by China's Cabinet.

"Strengthening control on vehicle emissions will be a major agenda item for the country's energy savings, emissions reductions, and low-carbon development during the next two years," the action plan said.

In addition to eliminating such polluting vehicles, experts are calling for quality upgrades for fuels which can also help mitigate air pollution and smog.