It is the best time to watch the charm of Autumn in Beijing. As holy spots for appreciating autumn, several ancient tree clusters along the Beijing Central Axis (BCA) have successively put on their autumn costumes. The married "Couple Cypress", the affectionate "Thuja Hugs Scholar", the "Deer-shaped Cypress" resembling both the shape and mien of a deer…these ancient trees are a part of nature and cultural heritage. Let's visit the "Star Ancient Trees" along the BCA and experience the historical charm carried by nature and the famous historical sites.
Palace Museum -- Couple Cypress
Age: about 200 years
Height: 9 meters.
Location: between Tianyi Gate (Gate of Heaven's Primacy) and Kunning Gate (Gate of Earthly Tranquility) in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City.
According to legend, this Couple Cypress was planted at the behest of Emperor Qianlong. A portion of the barks of two adjacent cypress trees was scraped off and tied together by grafting and they eventually grow into one with its intersection point located on the central axis. In traditional Chinese culture, the Couple Cypress symbolizes loyalty and love. This tree has become famous on the Internet and attracted many visitors to pray in front of the tree.
Zhongshan Park (Shejitan) -- Thuja Hugs Scholar
Age: The thuja tree is about 500 years old and the Chinese scholar tree is about 200 years old
Height: thuja tree, 12 meters; Chinese scholar tree, 15 meters
Location: North to the Sun Yat-sen Statue, Zhongshan Park.
A Styphnolobium japonicumtree (also known as the Chinese scholar tree and pagoda tree) has been rooted in a crack in the trunk of a
Platycladus orientalis(also known as Chinese thuja, Oriental arborvitae, Chinese arborvitae, biota or Oriental thuja) tree since the Qing Dynasty, and the two trees gradually grow together and embrace each other, forming a unique landscape of "Thuja Hugs Scholar". The Beijing Shejitan, also known as the Altar of Earth and Harvests or the Altar of Land and Grain, is a place for the emperor to worship the Land God and the Grain God. The fact that this miracle happens here has added a touch of mystery and romance to this spectacle, attracting many tourists to come and take photos.
Imperial Ancestral Temple -- Deer-shaped Cypress
Age: about 300 years
Height: 9 meters
Location: The Western Part of Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace.
The trunk of this cypress tree is shaped like a deer, with two holes on the head forming the eyes and mouth of a deer, making the entire tree look lifelike. Legend has it that during a sacrificial ceremony, a spotted deer was shot by an arrow and transformed into a cypress tree that was given the auspicious name "Deer-shaped Cypress" by the emperor. Due to its unique form and the legend behind it, it has become a well-known tourist attraction.
Temple of Heaven Park -- Nine-Dragon Cypress
Age: about 600 years
Height: 12 meters.
Location: Northwest of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Temple of Heaven Park.
The longitudinal folds of the trunk of this cypress tree are divided into nine strands, twisted and coiled like nine dragons, hence the name "Nine-Dragon Cypress ". It is said that during the inspection of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, nine snakes were found burrowing into the soil, and then this Nine-Dragon Cypress was found. Due to its unique form and cultural significance, it has been named one of the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Tree Kings" in Beijing and is a must-visit attraction when visiting the Temple of Heaven.
These "star" ancient trees along the BCA have been silently witnessing the vicissitudes of history and the changes over time. Every movement of the leaves with wind is like whispering to us and telling us the stories left by history on the BCA.
