Haikou Millennium Ancient Camphor Tree and Ancient Residential Area

Haikou Millennium Ancient Camphor Tree and Ancient Residential Area

In Haikou Village, Haikou Town, there grows an ancient camphor tree with a trunk circumference of 23 meters. The massive tree stands 20 meters tall, with a canopy spanning 35 meters. It has four main branches, and over 10 square meters of the base have hollowed out, resembling a natural shelter from the rain — the flat area can even accommodate at least one small car. Even more astonishing is that no matter how heavy the rain is outside, not a single drop falls inside the hollow trunk. According to tests and appraisals by provincial and municipal forestry departments, this camphor tree is over 1,800 years old. Its branches twist and curl in various shapes, much like the vines of an ancient creeper. Renowned for its age and remarkable form, the ancient camphor tree has gained widespread fame, attracting attention not only from local and provincial forestry authorities but also scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who have come specifically to see it.

The ancient residential houses preserved in Haikou today mostly date back to the Ming Dynasty or the early Qing Dynasty. Their “exquisite layout, ingenious structure, beautiful decoration, fine craftsmanship, and profound cultural significance” make them the jewels of Huizhou-style ancient homes. Among these, the Dong family residence is relatively well-preserved. Built in 1601, it covers a construction area of 500 square meters and features a two-courtyard, three-bay brick-and-wood Huizhou-style structure with wooden carvings. The house remains largely intact. The courtyard features a blue-stone carved flower water pool, and the entire building is adorned with exquisitely crafted stone reliefs, elegant and unique in style. It is the best-preserved Huizhou-style ancient residence in Dexing City, offering significant value for both appreciation and research.