JIANGSU, August 25, China Daily -- After a month-long investigation, Pizhou police in China’s Jiangsu province uncovered a case of trafficking in protected animals, seizing more than 1,800 gallinules (a type of aquatic bird that is beneficial to the environment and has scientific research value), on Aug 11.

This particular bird was added to the endangered species list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, in 2012, so that anyone who traffics in just a few of the birds is guilty of a crime.

BEIJING, August 15 -- A 2000-year- old locust tree stands at south upstream of Yanqi Lake, a famous scenic spot in Huairou county, northeast Beijing. The tree is 10 meters in height and 7 meters in width.

YUNNAN, August 10 -- A 1800-year-old sweet-scented osmanthus tree was discovered in Yunnan province, southwest China. The living tree is located in Midu county of Dali Prefecture.It is more than 30 meters tall.

CHANGCHUN, July 31, Xinhua -- A rare Chinese yew tree, believed to be about 3,000 years old, was discovered in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities said Sunday.

SHAANXI, July 25 -- An 1360-year old Sal tree (shorea guiso)，with a height of 20 meters and diameter at breast height of 3.8 meters , was found in Yinjun County, Shaanxi province in northwest China. It has been regarded as one of the sacred tree of Buddhism. According to historical records, the seed of the tree was taken back from India by Hsuan Tsang, a Buddhist monk in the Tang Dynasty, when he went on a pilgrimage for Buddhist scriptures there.