About 20 members of the Zhongshan Society of Australia (ZSSOA) on November 8 organized a tree-planting ceremony at the Overseas Chinese Group Forest at the Sun Wen Memorial Park. They planted and irrigated the aloes, which symbolize that the large number of overseas Chinese shall always remember their relatives and roots, and local feelings and friendship will flourish and continue from generation to generation.

Feng Youde, President of the ZSSOA, said that they were delighted to visit the ancient ancestral hall in Wuguishan District, the local chronicle hall in South District, and the village of Zuobu in Nanlang Town, where they experienced Zhongshan's deep cultural heritage and appreciated its changing landscape.

"We hope to continue the hometown affection with our relatives in Australia, so that overseas Chinese descendants will have a better understanding of Zhongshan and Chinese culture," Feng Youde said.

The Overseas Chinese Group Forest was initiated by the Guangdong Province Overseas Chinese Affairs Office during the Centennial Overseas Chinese Group Meeting held in 2006. It was co-established by representatives of 130 century-old overseas Chinese groups from more than 20 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the United States and the Philippines.