Spring in Beijing brings new green leaves and fragrant blossoms, as trees awaken. The Chinese arborvitae and pagodatree, symbols of resilience and nobility, have deep roots in the city's history. These trees not only provide shade and beauty but also hold medicinal properties. As Tree Planting Day approaches, let's appreciate the rich stories and cultural significance of Beijing's trees.

Chinese Arborvitae

Native to northern China, the Chinese arborvitae is a coniferous tree reaching up to 20 meters tall. Widely cultivated in Beijing, it is a common sight at famous mountains and ancient temples. Natural arborvitae forests can be found across many provinces, including Xinglong in Hebei, the Taihang Mountains in Shanxi, the Wei River valley north of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, and the valleys along the Lancang River in Yunnan, growing at elevations between 250-3300 meters.

The Chinese arborvitae has a long history of cultivation in Beijing. Its timber can be used for construction and furniture making, while its branches, leaves and seeds have medicinal properties - promoting blood clotting, relieving rheumatism, acting as a diuretic, suppressing coughs and calming the mind. With its graceful form, it also serves as an ornamental garden tree. The arborvitaes flanking the east and west sides of Tiananmen Square in Zhongshan Park and the Working People's Cultural Palace are remnants of the former Imperial Ancestral Temple and Altar of Land and Grain, constructed strictly according to Zhou Li's mandate of "facing the court at the front and markets at the back, with ancestral shrines to the left and altars of soil and grain to the right." Strolling there today, one can still see arborvitae trees that have grown for centuries, exuding an aura of solemn grandeur. The Summer Palace's arborvitae trees, cultivated for imperial leisure, also lend a sense of reverence to these former recreational grounds.