Participants of the Sixth World Buddhist Forum at the "Building Joyful Affinities" ceremony and tree planting before the forum opening in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Zhang Wei/China Daily]

The verdant greenery that enriches the landscapes of Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province makes it a delightful destination for visitors. Among the scenery stand camphor trees — the city tree of Ningbo — which provide a large shaded canopy and pleasing scent.

On Tuesday morning, a grand ceremony to pray for joy and peace was held outside the Maitreya Altar on Mount Xuedou amid the camphor trees.

Several attendants of the Sixth World Buddhist Forum held in Ningbo from Oct 15-17 of various countries gathered at the ceremony for the unveiling of the "Building Joyful Affinities" stele ahead of the forum's opening, which officially opened at the Xuedou Monastery on Mount Xuedou in the evening.

Guests at the ceremony also planted and watered camphor trees, delivering a shared hope for peaceful minds, social harmony, world peace and enhanced human welfare.

The World Buddhist Forum was first held in 2006 in Hangzhou and Zhoushan of Zhejiang province. It aims to build an equal, diverse and open platform of high-level dialogue for those who cherish the world, care for sentient beings, espouse Buddhism and embody compassion.

Participants of the Sixth World Buddhist Forum at the "Building Joyful Affinities" ceremony and tree planting before the forum opening in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Zhang Wei/China Daily]

Participants of the Sixth World Buddhist Forum at the "Building Joyful Affinities" ceremony and tree planting before the forum opening in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Zhang Wei/China Daily]