More than 37,000 hectares of trees were planted in Qingdao under the afforestation projects in 2003 as the city is working toward a "Green Olympic."  

The coastal city of Qingdao in east China will host the sailing event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Qingdao has seen 373,000 ha. area covered by forests in 2003 while they plan to add 27,000 ha. of forest this year under eight afforestation and forest-protection projects launched in recent years.

In 2005, forests are expected to cover 30 percent area of the city of 10,000 square meters.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)