Wu Xingrong is one of the oldest volunteers in Shanghai.
A retired military serviceman, the 74-year-old has devoted most
of his time buying and planting saplings in public spaces in the
coastal metropolis, the venue for the 2010 World Expo.
Since 2002 when Shanghai won the bid for organizing the 2010
World Expo, Wu has planted more than 20,000 Chinese roses and
10,000 camphor saplings around his neighborhood and near such
landmarks as the Oriental Pearl Television Tower, People's Square,
and the Formula One Race Course.
Wu Xingrong breeds Chinese
rose and camphor seedlines in the courtyard of his house. (photo:
China Daily)
"As a Shanghai citizen, I want to do something to make our city
prettier and more attractive for guests from around the world," Wu
explains. "Donating and planting trees and flowers is the best
thing I can do."
Almost every morning, Wu rises early at his home in the Juyuan
Xinqu Residential Complex, Jiading district.
After a simple breakfast, Wu hurries out on his bicycle to
inspect the saplings he has planted.
"To take care of the increasing amount of green spaces under my
namesake, I've got a full schedule. But I really enjoy what I've
been doing over these years," Wu says with a smile.
Spending more than three decades in the army, Wu says he had no
idea how to take care of trees and flowers. He then borrowed books
from a community library and began experimenting with Chinese rose
saplings at a small lot owned by his relatives in Jiading
district.
"Among the first batch of 3,000 saplings, 800 turned out to be
successful and have continued to grow ever since," Wu says, adding
that he is somewhat of an expert in planting the Chinese rose and
camphor trees.
Later on, he rented lots from farmers to house the saplings
after using up all of spare space at his home.
Wu's first venture started in his neighborhood. There he has
donated at least 1,000
Chinese rose saplings to a senior citizen's hospice and middle
schools.
His first big project began at Century Park in Pudong district,
Shanghai in the summer of 2002. He planned to plant 10,000 Chinese
roses for the newly built park but only used 4,000 in the end.
Then, Wu turned to other public spaces in Shanghai.
"My project will eventually reach all of the 19 districts and
suburban counties in the years to come," Wu says.
(China Daily February 16, 2008)
