It is going to be the 46th Arbor Day in China, and planting a sapling in the bright spring could mean a lot. Therefore, schools and communities usually organize activities during Arbor Day to add to the beauty of the city's green environment. So, how much do you know about Arbor Day?

The origin of Arbor Day

In ancient China, there was a tradition of planting willows and trees during the Qingming Festival.

China's Arbor Day is set on March 12th, the anniversary of the death of Mr. Sun Yat-sen. Mr. Sun Yat-sen attached great importance to forestry construction, shortly after the establishment of the Nanjing government of the Republic of China, where Mr. Sun Yat-sen served as the interim president, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was established in May 1912, with a Forestry Department responsible for national forestry administrative affairs. In November 1914, the first Forest Law in modern Chinese history was promulgated.

In July 1915, under the initiative of Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the Beiyang government at that time officially ordered that Arbor Day be held on the Qingming Festival every year. Designated locations, selected tree species, and governments at all levels, institutions, and schools across the country participated in Arbor Day ceremonies and activities as scheduled. After being approved on July 21st of that year, the order was issued nationwide. There has been the Arbor Day in China then.

In 1979, at the suggestion of Deng Xiaoping, the sixth meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress decided that March 12th of each year would be China's Arbor Day. In February 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress officially passed the resolution to designate March 12th of each year as Arbor Day based on the proposal of the State Council.