A 15-meter fir tree used as a Christmas tree in front of a local
shopping mall was put on record for investigation by local law
enforcement in Shenyang, Liaoning Province.
"The Christmas tree was a real fir tree at least 30 years of
age. We have to find out from where it was moved because the
species is protected," they said.
To prevent rare tree species from being chopped down, local
authorities are now launching an investigation about all living
trees that were used as Christmas trees in local restaurants and
hotels.
(ChinaDaily December 26, 2007)