In early winter on Taishan Mountain in Tai'an, Shandong, the evergreen pines become adorned with reddish rowan berries, while fallen yellow leaves appear striking against the ancient architecture. This vibrant scenery stands in stark contrast to the pre-1949 era, when deforestation left the mountain nearly bare, with less than 2 percent forest coverage.

The transformation began with the first generation of Taishan Mountain foresters, who embarked on a massive reforestation campaign. Living in stone huts and makeshift shelters, they expanded the forest from 3,000 mu (200 hectares) to 180,000 mu within just 15 years. Their dedication turned seemingly impossible tasks into reality, using ropes to plant trees on cliffs like Feilong Rock, which has now been completely regreened with 150,000 native trees.

Listed as China's first UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in 1987, Taishan Mountain is home to 18,195 ancient trees of 39 species. Among these, 23 individual trees are listed as World Heritage elements, serving as living monuments to China's ecological and cultural legacy.

The mountain's biodiversity continues to flourish, hosting 1,627 plant species and 376 bird species. Advanced technology supports these efforts, with an "artificial intelligence guardian" system using 50 high-altitude cameras to provide 85 percent coverage for fire monitoring.

With forest coverage now reaching 94.8 percent, Taishan Mountain has fully restored its ancient greenery, maintaining the eternal beauty while ensuring its preservation for generations to come.

Winter brings a serene and tranquil beauty to Taishan Mountain in Tai'an, Shandong. [Photo/WeChat account: china-taishan]