The legislators agreed that the tenacity shown by the tree evokes the pioneering and innovative spirit shown by Shenzheners.

The litchi tree was originally designated as the city tree in 1986. But on Nov. 1 last year, An Bangqiang and two other members of the municipal committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference proposed that the mangrove tree instead be designated as the city tree. The move won the support of many residents and experts.

However, some experts have argued that all the municipal trees in other major Chinese cities have only one variety while in Shenzhen alone, there are as many as seven varieties of mangrove. They said it would be a scientific mistake to recommend the mangrove tree as a city tree.

In January, an expert panel gave the green light for the recommendation of the mangrove tree as possible city tree, ending a three-month dispute over whether the tree was eligible.

In the same month, Shenzhen residents were invited by the city’s forestry commission to cast their votes for the city tree. The mangrove received 41,685 of 61,723 votes, or nearly 70 percent of the votes, beating out the kapok and the royal poinciana.

Mangrove forests are very important for the ecology of Shenzhen. Some 400,000 migratory birds spend the winter at Mangrove Nature Reserve annually, according to official statistics. (Mu Zi)