China celebrates Arbor Day, or Tree Planting Day, on March 12. The day commemorates the passing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, China's democratic revolution forerunner, who died on March 12, 1925.

Over the past two decades, many people have participated in tree-planting since the country designated March 12 as Tree Planting Day in 1979. China launched its national voluntary tree-planting campaign in the early 1980s.

According to a 1981 NPC (National People's Congress, China's top legislature) resolution, all able-bodied Chinese citizens older than age 11 have an obligation to plant three to five trees every year.

For different types of climates and suitable times for tree-planting，many provinces and cities in China have a local Arbor Day, Arbor Week and Arbor Month.