Pear Spring Tourism Resort, located in northern suburbs of Nanjing, has recently attracted many tourists to take part in a tree-planting tour. It is reported that once the tourist pays 10 yuan as a commission fee and gets a tree-adoption certificate, he will be allowed to get saplings and tools. After planting, the tourist can have a free visit to the park at that time, along with two other free visits each year. On a daily basis, gardeners will tend and protect the trees instead of the tourist.

There are many advantages to this marvelous tree-planting tour.

First, it is good for promoting environmental protection. The tour is beneficial not only through adding new iridescence to the park, but also through protecting the ecological environment. Moreover it helps people to enhance their sense of environmental protection.

Secondly, it contributes to the growing reputation of ‘green tours’. Sometimes, a few people pick up flowers and twigs or even drop rubbish at random during their visit to public parks, which damages and pollutes the surrounding environment. Now, the tour invites people to plant trees by their own hands. Through that, people receive a living environment-protecting education.

Thirdly, it is a good ‘creative tour’. In the past, tourists usually paid the entrance fee before they visited the park. But now, they are invited to pay 10 yuan for the saplings and commission fee instead. Moreover, they can have two more free visits a year. Tourists get more profit compared with simply paying an entrance fee. On the other hand, it adds more greenery to the scenery and the environment is well protected long-term.

People hope that there will be more tree-planting tours in other scenic spots over the country.

(CIIC by Unisumoon 04/09/2001)