Five Ancient Beijing Trees Worth Checking Out
Walking around Beijing, you might be stunned by the spectacular and splendid historical buildings. However, what you might not have noticed are the giants standing beside these buildings; bearing witness to the history and social change surrounding them firsthand – Beijing’s ancient trees. You can occasionally pass by these giants of history, they seem to be connectors of the past and present. The next time you head to any of the capital’s tourist spots, take some time and see if you can spot these elders during your visit. Platycladus orientalis Linn. Franco Located on the hillside outside the north gate of Xinchengzi in Miyun district, the height of this tree is 25 meters, and the perimeter of 18 tree limbs is up to 7.5 meters. Having traced its origins all the way back to the Shang dynasty (c. 2070-c. 1600 BCE), experts deduce this tree is over 3,000 years old, making it Beijing’s oldest. It towers in front of the Temple of Guan Yu (a famous general from the Three Kingdoms period), and local people regard it as a protector of the temple. The Emperor Tree The Emperor Tree, a ginkgo, can be found in Tanzhe Temple in Mentougou district, just at the gate of the Lishu (Pear Tree) Courtyard. It is 24 meters in height and 4 meters in diameter. According to legend, this tree was planted during the Zhenguan period 1,300 years ago during the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE). The tree was named “The Emperor Tree” by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911), which is a supreme title that the emperor conferred in ancient times. There is an interesting legend associated with the tree: every time a new emperor ascended the throne during the Qing dynasty, the tree would allegedly grow a new twig. However, when an emperor died, one twig would fall from the tree. The White-Robed General Unlike other species, the White-Robed General, which sits atop the Circular City in Beihai Park, is covered in white and was believed to be a “white dragon” in ancient times. It is 16 meters tall and over 850 years old. Since the Jiajing period in the Ming dynasty (1206-1368), the imperial palace provided a certain amount of expenses to maintain and protect this tree. According to legend, Emperor Qianlong gave the title White-Robed General when he elected to relax in the shade of this graceful giant. The King of the Jujube Tree Honored as a living fossil, this jujube tree is 20 meters high and was planted 800 years ago in the Jin dynasty (1115-1234). Unlike most of the trees on this list, this tree is based in a residential area, the Zaoyan Residential Compound to be exact, in Dongcheng district. This old one is treated like a member of the surrounding community, which holds a jujube tree festival each year to commemorate it. Kowloon Cypress Planted in the Ming dynasty, this 10-meter-high and 500-year-old cypress is one of the oldest trees in the Temple of Heaven, located northwest of the Imperial Vault. The name Kowloon means “nine dragons,” which is from a legend that Emperor Qianlong stumbled upon the tree while attending to ceremonies in the temple. The Kowloon Cypress impressed him because the unique pattern on the trunk looked like nine dragons winding together, leading the emperor to believe the tree was the physical form of holy dragons who were assigned by heaven to safeguard the temple. These are but a few of the ancient trees that call Beijing home, with 41,865 trees on the official record. They’ve not only witnessed Chinese history through the centuries, but are also a part of local culture themselves. Have you spotted any of these trees before? READ: Visit Here: Dongsi Hutong Museum Images: Baidu Baike, BRTV, ancienttrees.com Provided:Paid:
Walking around Beijing, you might be stunned by the spectacular and splendid historical buildings. However, what you might not have noticed are the giants standing beside these buildings; bearing witness to the history and social change surrounding them firsthand – Beijing’s ancient trees.
You can occasionally pass by these giants of history, they seem to be connectors of the past and present. The next time you head to any of the capital’s tourist spots, take some time and see if you can spot these elders during your visit.
Platycladus orientalis Linn. Franco
Located on the hillside outside the north gate of Xinchengzi in Miyun district, the height of this tree is 25 meters, and the perimeter of 18 tree limbs is up to 7.5 meters. Having traced its origins all the way back to the Shang dynasty (c. 2070-c. 1600 BCE), experts deduce this tree is over 3,000 years old, making it Beijing’s oldest. It towers in front of the Temple of Guan Yu (a famous general from the Three Kingdoms period), and local people regard it as a protector of the temple.
The Emperor Tree
The Emperor Tree, a ginkgo, can be found in Tanzhe Temple in Mentougou district, just at the gate of the Lishu (Pear Tree) Courtyard. It is 24 meters in height and 4 meters in diameter. According to legend, this tree was planted during the Zhenguan period 1,300 years ago during the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE). The tree was named “The Emperor Tree” by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911), which is a supreme title that the emperor conferred in ancient times. There is an interesting legend associated with the tree: every time a new emperor ascended the throne during the Qing dynasty, the tree would allegedly grow a new twig. However, when an emperor died, one twig would fall from the tree.
The White-Robed General
Unlike other species, the White-Robed General, which sits atop the Circular City in Beihai Park, is covered in white and was believed to be a “white dragon” in ancient times. It is 16 meters tall and over 850 years old. Since the Jiajing period in the Ming dynasty (1206-1368), the imperial palace provided a certain amount of expenses to maintain and protect this tree. According to legend, Emperor Qianlong gave the title White-Robed General when he elected to relax in the shade of this graceful giant.
The King of the Jujube Tree
Honored as a living fossil, this jujube tree is 20 meters high and was planted 800 years ago in the Jin dynasty (1115-1234). Unlike most of the trees on this list, this tree is based in a residential area, the Zaoyan Residential Compound to be exact, in Dongcheng district. This old one is treated like a member of the surrounding community, which holds a jujube tree festival each year to commemorate it.
Kowloon Cypress
Planted in the Ming dynasty, this 10-meter-high and 500-year-old cypress is one of the oldest trees in the Temple of Heaven, located northwest of the Imperial Vault. The name Kowloon means “nine dragons,” which is from a legend that Emperor Qianlong stumbled upon the tree while attending to ceremonies in the temple. The Kowloon Cypress impressed him because the unique pattern on the trunk looked like nine dragons winding together, leading the emperor to believe the tree was the physical form of holy dragons who were assigned by heaven to safeguard the temple.
These are but a few of the ancient trees that call Beijing home, with 41,865 trees on the official record. They’ve not only witnessed Chinese history through the centuries, but are also a part of local culture themselves. Have you spotted any of these trees before?
READ: Visit Here: Dongsi Hutong Museum
Images: Baidu Baike, BRTV, ancienttrees.com
