Trees cover a hillside in Pingliang, Gansu province. [Photo by Huang Weilin]

In early summer, the hills around the Taitong-Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve in Pingliang, Gansu province are fresh with lush greenery.

Over the past few years, efforts have been made to promote the high-quality development of afforestation. With forest coverage rate exceeding 70 percent, the reserve is now home to more than 90 kinds of trees, 3,000 kinds of herbaceous plants and 30 kinds of wild animals.