Guardians of Time: Chun'an People's Nostalgia across Millennia

Ancient trees are the precious heritage of nature. They have witnessed historical changes, carry cultural memories, and have important ecological value.

The ancient trees in various towns and villages of Chun'an County are rooted in the memories of generations of Chun'an people and still show strong vitality to this day.

01 Weiping Pengli Ginkgo

The ancient ginkgo is located in Dongyuan Village, Pengli Natural Village, Weiping Town, with a tree age of over 1370 years. It has won honors such as "Top Ten Ancient Trees of Zhejiang". According to legend, this ancient ginkgo was planted by Wang Jun, the eighth son of King Wu Wang Hua, the local leader of the peasant uprising at the end of the Sui Dynasty. At the same time, Pengli Lingyan Temple is also the uprising place of Fang La, a famous peasant uprising leader in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Now, there is a temple called Lingyan Temple next to the ginkgo tree, and monks reside here. As autumn approaches, the ginkgo leaves turn from tender green to golden, swaying gracefully in the wind. From a distance, it looks like a huge golden umbrella, beautiful and breathtaking.

02 Fenkou Xianju Camphor Tree

This ancient camphor tree, located at the lower end of Xianju Natural Village in Xianju Village, Fenkou Town, is the largest ancient tree in Chun'an, with a circumference of 903 centimeters and a tree age of 1020 years. It has guarded generations of villagers in Xianju Village, witnessing their joys and sorrows, and sharing their life experiences. In summer, children play and frolic under the shade of the tree, while the elderly chat leisurely with fans, creating a lively atmosphere.

03 Jiangfeng Xiajiang Maple

The brother maple trees of Xiajiang are a unique sight in the area, with a tree age of 520 years and a height of 33 meters. This ancient tree divides into two thick trunks at a height of 2 meters from the root, pointing straight to the sky, known as the "twin brother maple".

04 Wangfu Guanjia Golden Larch

Viewed from afar, the tree towers into the sky; viewed close by, it features straight trunks and flat branches. The leaves turn golden in autumn, resembling copper coins. This is the national second-class protected plant—Golden Larch. In the valley of Guanjia Village, there is such a special existence, with a tree age of 220 years, a height of 34 meters, and a circumference of 320 centimeters. Looking from afar, it gives off a sense of "standing out in the forest", captivating people's hearts.

05 Weiping Tangwu Camphor Tree

According to villagers, magpies used to build nests and hatch eggs on the top of the tree, and there were often battles between magpies, crows, and eagles for a nesting site on the tree. Perhaps because of these battles, or perhaps for other reasons, a small hackberry seed rooted and sprouted in the camphor tree hole, forming a rare scene of "a camphor tree embracing a hackberry". At a height of 4 meters on the main trunk of the ancient camphor tree, there is also a small Chinese angelica-tree growing. The three of them depend on each other. The ancient camphor tree now has a tree age of 620 years and is a first-class ancient tree in Chun'an.