Jian'ge County in Guangyuan Hosts Handover Ceremony for Over 12,000 Ancient and Famous Trees
Jian'ge County in Guangyuan Hosts Handover Ceremony for Over 12,000 Ancient and Famous Trees
Selasa, 25 Maret 2025 | 13:01
On March 15, Hope Justman (middle) and her friends strolling on the ancient Shu Road in Jiange County, Guangyuan City. Photo by Liu Ren
GUANGYUAN, CHINA -
Media OutReach Newswire
- 24 March 2025 - On March 12, marking the 47th Arbor Day of China, the
"Shu Road Cuiyun Corridor Ancient Cypress Conservation Handover
Ceremony" was held in Jian'ge County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province.
More than a hundred town and township cadres, forest rangers and
villagers witnessed this special handover event, who gathered to witness
the transfer of responsibility for the stewardship of more than 12,000
ancient and famous trees. Among these venerable beings, the eldest
boasts an impressive age of approximately 2,300 years.
Since the Ming Dynasty, Jian'ge County has upheld a tradition of
conducting handover ceremonies for ancient cypresses along its trade
routes during the transition between incoming and outgoing officials. As
part of this practice, the officials meticulously count the number of
ancient cypresses and record their survival and growth conditions in the
area. To this day, the handover of ancient and famous trees remains a
vital aspect of transfer of duty in Jian'ge County, symbolizing the
enduring commitment to safeguarding these venerable trees across
generations.
Located in the northern part of Sichuan, Jian'ge County stands as a
pivotal landmark along the ancient, a trade route boasting a history of
more than 2,000 years. Renowned for its wealth of transportation relics
and cultural landscapes that bear witness to the passage of time, it has
earned the title of "a living fossil of ancient land transportation".
As early as 2015, the ancient Shu Road was already added to the UNESCO
World Heritage Tentative List, and has since been nominated as a candidate for both World Natural and Cultural Heritage status.
Within the ancient Shu Road, a stretch of nearly 300 kilometers lies in
Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, renowned as the section with the most
abundant relics and historical narratives. Particularly notable is the
Cuiyun Corridor in Jian'ge County, which boasts the world's largest,
oldest, and most extensive cluster of ancient trees planted along an
historic route. Currently, a total of 7,803 ancient trees remain,
including 7,778 ancient cypresses with an average age of 1,050 years.
The verdant trees block out sunlight, creating an ethereal atmosphere
that makes walking beneath them feel like stepping into a living
painting.
In recent years, the ancient Shu Road has gradually emerged as a
sought-after destination among both Chinese and foreign tourists thanks
to its unique charms. On March 13, 82-year-old American explorer Hope
Justman, accompanied by her friends, explored iconic sites such as
Jianmen Pass and the Cuiyun Corridor, immersing themselves in the rich
culture of the Shu Road and the timeless grandeur of its ancient trees.
This marked her 25th journey along this millennia-old historic route.
To better protect the ancient and famous trees, local authorities
perform "physical check-up" for them on a regular basis, including
inspections for hollowing and decay, cleaning and treating damaged areas
of trunks, and performing "minimally invasive surgeries". Over the past
three years, Jian'ge County has successfully restored and rescued 2,478
endangered and weakened ancient cypresses.
On March 15, China officially enacted the
Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees,
marking the first time the country has established standardized
management and protection practices for these trees through
administrative legislation. Notably, the Regulations drew inspiration
from the ancient cypress handover system of the Cuiyun Corridor along
the historic Shu Road.
Cuiyun Corridor on the ancient Shu Road. Photo by Meng Libo