Beijing encourages public to adopt ancient trees

An unprecedented 755 ancient and precious trees in the capital are available for public adoption this year, ynet.com reported on Tuesday, which is China's 35th tree planting day.

Those who adopt can put up a signboard without disturbing the surrounding environment of the trees, the municipal forestry commission office announced on Monday.

Beijing is home to more than 40,000 ancient and precious trees, most of which are Chinese scholar trees, cypress, pine trees and gingko trees.

The capital also encourages the public to plant 3 million new trees to better absorb PM 2.5 (hazardous particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less) this year.

In the last three decades, more than 78 million have participated in voluntary tree planting, resulting in 189 million trees being planted with a survival rate of 88 percent.