The Millennium Ancient Camphor Tree in Fan Town

The Millennium Ancient Camphor Tree in Fan Town

Among the many ancient and famous trees in Cixi, one stands out particularly brightly — an old camphor tree growing in Fujiatang, Hetou Village, Fan Town. According to investigations by the gardening authorities, this ancient camphor tree is over 1,000 years old.

Three small hills — Miaoshan, Laoyingshan, and Shangdai Mountain — stand in their respective directions, forming a triangle. A clear stream runs through the triangular area, making the natural village of Fujiatang, home to only a few dozen farming households, particularly conspicuous. This clear stream, called Qianfang River, is not only the lifeblood of the dozens of households in Fujiatang but also nurtures numerous trees, including this millennium-old camphor tree.

From a distance, the ancient camphor tree resembles a hoary, long-bearded old man, appearing sturdy and robust. In the early years, there used to be a Qinghe Temple next to the ancient camphor tree, but it has now collapsed. Fujiatang has long been known as the "Lotus Leaf Land." Local villagers say that no matter how fierce the floods rise, Fujiatang has never been submerged. This peculiar piece of land, no more than a few hundred square meters in size, has been spared from waterlogging thanks to the protection of this ancient camphor tree — hence the name "Lotus Leaf Land."

Although the heart of the ancient camphor tree is hollow, it remains lush and verdant, with a girth of 13 meters that requires seven people holding hands to encircle it. People far from the city have always cherished the gifts of nature deeply. For thousands of years, the villagers have carefully tended to this ancient camphor tree with simple love. Today, a 50-meter-long stone retaining wall has been built along the river, and the overgrown land of more than an acre around the ancient tree has been transformed into green space. This millennium-old tree, revered by villagers as the "King of Camphor Trees," along with other centuries-old trees in the village such as ginkgoes, sandalwoods, and schima superba, forms an elegant and rustic ecological landscape in Hetou Village.