Arbor Day in China and Taiwan Date in the current year: March 12, 2024

The first attempts to establish Arbor Day (in China it's also called National Tree Day) were made by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary, medical practitioner and later the first President of Taiwan. In 1914 he sent the suggestion to the relevant ministries of China to celebrate the US holiday of planting trees. At that time his proposal wasn't taken seriously and it was rejected.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen paid much attention to promotion of reafforestation of China. Only after his death on March 12, 1925 his attempts were appreciated. The government of China started paying attention to the projects of reafforestation and it established Arbor Day to commemorate the death anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

Arbor Day is observed in mainland China on the national level. Every citizen is obliged to plant 2-3 trees on this day. Arbor Day is also celebrated in Taiwan, but it's an unofficial holiday.