(XU YU)

Volunteers in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, plant trees along Fuchun River before China's Tree Planting Day, which falls on March 12.

Tree planting has helped China's efforts to become greener with volunteers planting 2.52 billion saplings across the country in 2013, according to a report released by the National Afforestation Committee Office on March 11.

The Chinese Government raised its subsidies for the promotion of better varieties of trees and forests last year to 9.13 billion yuan ($1.49 billion), up 482 million yuan ($78.52 million) from 2012, the report revealed.