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Expats join tree planting in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on March 12. [Photo/Tide News] 

A special tree planting event took place at Lanting National Forest Park in Shaoxing on March 12.

Over 70 participants, including international residents living and working in Keqiao district, joined locals to plant 120 trees—known locally as xiangfei and symbolic of Shaoxing's cultural heritage.

The tree has deep cultural and historical roots. More than 2,000 years ago, the people of Shaoxing began cultivating it from wild varieties through grafting and selective propagation.

The tree is prized for its economic value and ecological benefits and is considered one of the city's natural treasures. In recent years, local authorities have stepped up efforts to protect the species while promoting the growing industry, which now enjoys national recognition.

China designated March 12 as National Tree Planting Day in 1979, and launched a nationwide voluntary tree-planting campaign in 1981.

Thanks to decades of perseverance in its afforestation, China is at the forefront of global efforts to green the planet, contributing approximately a quarter of the world's new green areas since 2000.