BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijingers have taken part in various voluntary tree planting activities and planted over 200 million trees over the past 40 years, local authorities said Tuesday.

China designated March 12 as National Tree Planting Day in 1979.

The national capital then created a voluntary tree planting day on the first weekend in April, according to the Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau.

By the end of 2018, people living in Beijing have volunteered over 100 million times to participated in diverse tree planting campaigns, planting over 200 million trees.

Last year, residents in Beijing volunteered over 4 million times to take part in tree planting events, helping plant around 1 million trees.