Over 60,000 hectares of trees planted around Beijing

More than 60,000 hectares of trees have been planted this year near Beijing to preserve water and protect the region's environment, local authorities said Thursday.

The trees have been planted in 47 counties and cities in Hebei Province near the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, according to the provincial government.

So far, nearly 240,000 hectares of trees have been planted in the province, reaching 93.9 percent of the annual target.

Hebei is also working with Beijing on combining land for a national park stretching dozens of miles through northern China over the next three years.

China released a master plan earlier this year seeking greater integration between Beijing and neighboring Tianjin and Hebei in economic development, transportation and environmental protection. Endi