Phoenix Pine

Phoenix Pine

On Jiuhua Mountain, a sacred Buddhist site, stands a thousand-year-old pine tree. Though not as internationally renowned as the Guest-Greeting Pine, its unique shape and rich history are no less remarkable. The Ancient Phoenix Pine is located northeast of Huilong Bridge in Zhongminyuan within the Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area. It belongs to the "Huangshan Pine" species, scientifically known as Taiwan Pine, stands 7.68 meters tall, with a diameter at breast height of 1 meter. This pine has a flat-topped crown, an unusually shaped top resembling a phoenix’s crest, and a flattened trunk that splits into three branches at a height of 3 meters. The central branch reaches skyward, while one side branch extends backward like a phoenix tail and the other spreads outward like phoenix wings. The entire tree faces Tian Tai (Heavenly Terrace), resembling a phoenix raising its neck and spreading its wings, ready to soar into the blue sky. Locals have long called it the “Phoenix Pine.” The grass around its roots is lush and green, and beneath the pine’s tail lies a large round stone known as the “Phoenix Egg.” The pine’s flat trunk is an adaptation to the harsh high-altitude growing conditions—its natural defense against strong mountain winds and lightning strikes. Nature and nurture, inner resilience and outward form, all reflect the laws of survival etched into this ancient tree.

Historical records mention this Ancient Phoenix Pine dating back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, believed to have been planted by the eminent monk Huaidu of that era, making it approximately 1,400 years old. According to historical accounts, in the fifth year of the Long’an era during the Jin Dynasty (401 AD), the Indian monk Huaidu built a hut on Jiuhua Mountain to spread Buddhist teachings, likely marking the origin of the mountain’s Buddhist culture. If the Phoenix Pine was indeed planted by Huaidu himself, its true age could exceed 1,500 years. This millennium-old tree has witnessed the transformation of an ordinary mountain into a sacred Buddhist destination. Today, the Phoenix Pine remains upright and vibrant, its lush green foliage a living testament to time. Its majestic presence and legendary tales have made it a favorite subject of poets, painters, and photographers throughout history. The famed painter Li Keran praised the Phoenix Pine as the “Most Extraordinary Pine Under Heaven,” an accolade now engraved on a stone tablet standing beside the tree. The Phoenix Pine has thus become one of Jiuhua Mountain’s most iconic sights.

Among locals, another legend tells the tale of the Phoenix Pine’s origin. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there lived a clever and beautiful young woman named Xiaofeng in Minyuan at the foot of Jiuhua Mountain. She loved painting, especially drawing phoenixes, which often attracted real phoenixes to linger beside her. Over time, people began calling her the “Phoenix Girl.” One day, while painting by the Tongtian River, she was spotted by a visiting county magistrate. Struck by her beauty and talent, he decided to kidnap her and present her to the emperor as a concubine in hopes of gaining favor and promotion. Days later, the magistrate sent men with a sedan chair to seize her from the mountain.

Tied up in the sedan, the Phoenix Girl was carried to a steep stone platform leading to the heavens. Determined not to fall into the hands of her captors, she bit through her bonds and leaped into a deep abyss by the roadside. At that very moment, a magnificent golden phoenix appeared, spread its wings, and caught her mid-fall, carrying her on its back as it flew toward the summit of Tian Tai. The phoenix paused briefly on the Azure Dragon Stone of Tian Tai (where phoenix footprints are said to remain), allowing her one last look at her homeland, before soaring away beyond the mortal realm.

Heartbroken, the Phoenix Girl’s parents and fellow villagers visited the riverbank where she painted, weeping daily. One day, a giant golden phoenix descended and dropped a pine seed onto the spot. With its claws, the phoenix dug a small hole, buried the seed, and flew away. The following year, a tender green sapling sprouted. Soon after, a large, perfectly round stone appeared nearby. Legend says the phoenix placed it there to protect the sapling’s roots from being uprooted. As years passed, the little pine grew taller and more peculiar in shape. After countless seasons, it eventually resembled a beautiful green phoenix. People came to believe the magical tree was the reincarnation of the Phoenix Girl, and thus it became known as the “Phoenix Pine.”

While the authenticity of this folk tale may never be verified, it reflects the deep affection locals hold for the Phoenix Pine and highlights the harmony between humans and nature. Walking from the Phoenix Pine toward Zhongminyuan, visitors will encounter a series of quaint temples and nunneries—some classic and understated, others grand and resplendent. Notable sites include Shengbin JingShe, Lotus Nunnery, Great Mercy Nunnery, Guangming Hut, Zhanyuan JingShe, Dayuan Hut, Jingxiu Hut, Cixiu Nunnery, Huiju Temple Branch, and Jiuhua Lotus Society. Each is worth a visit in its own right.