Colorful tree 'sweaters' branch out across country

Controversy, reflection

While dressing trees in sweaters has garnered a lot of praise around the country, it has also sparked controversy.

Professor Liu Yong, from Beijing Forestry University, told Beijing News that trees like the locust and the camphor, which have been planted for many years, have already adapted to the local climate and do not require additional warmth. Dressing them in sweaters is more like a form of "performance art".

"During the holiday season, dressing them for a couple of days to create an atmosphere is feasible, but doing so for an extended period could lead to insects laying eggs inside, causing diseases in the trees," he said, adding that there have been instances of ancient trees wrapped in banners for many years, and upon removal, insect eggs were found.

Some netizens wondered if such activities were a waste of resources and suggested prioritizing people's needs. Others felt the practice was a form of formalism.

"This may be a manifestation of the lack of innovative thinking in urban greening management. Blindly dressing trees in 'clothes' may affect the health of the trees, such as causing poor ventilation and breeding mold," one netizen commented on social media platform Xiaohongshu.

But many other netizens said that seeing the trees dressed in sweaters had lifted their spirits and made them feel that their city is more vibrant and lovable.

From plush toys to city buildings, many young people are keen on anthropomorphizing objects and imbuing them with personality and emotion.

Some enthusiasts believe this is a way of presenting existing objects in a fresh manner and adding novelty to them. However, critics worry that treating society as a fairy tale reflects a reluctance to grow up and is indicative of a "Peter Pan syndrome".