Ancient Camphor Trees of Yangmeidu

Ancient Camphor Trees of Yangmeidu

Ancient trees can be found in the mountains, and millennia-old giants also thrive on the plains. Nestled along the riverbank of Chetian Natural Village in Taiyangsheng Town, a dense grove of towering trees forms a rare and ancient camphor cluster.

Standing among these ancient camphors, you’ll find dozens of trees soaring over thirty meters tall, each requiring several people to encircle their massive trunks. Their trunks stand like colossal pillars, branches twist like coiled dragons, and leaves form thick clouds, casting a vast shade. Looking up, sunlight barely filters through, yet the summer heat feels refreshingly cool; egrets nest in the branches, and birds sing all around. Visitors often find their spirits lifted and leave with lingering nostalgia, as if entering a paradise on earth. Legend has it that this famous ancient camphor cluster was planted by Han Hong, a renowned poet from Nanyang and one of the “Ten Talents of the Dali Era” during the Tang Dynasty (for the legend of Han Hong planting the camphors, see the introduction in “Tales of Chetian”).

Camphor trees, also known as fragrant camphors, are precious large deciduous tree species that remain evergreen year-round, emit a pleasant aroma, and can grow up to thirty meters tall. They are classified as a second-class nationally protected plant, primarily distributed south of the Yangtze River and in southwestern regions, and are excellent materials for shipbuilding, furniture, cabinets, and carving. Camphor and camphor oil extracted from the trees serve as industrial raw materials. The roots, fruits, branches, and leaves of the camphor tree are all medicinal, with effects such as dispelling wind and cold, strengthening the heart, calming spasms, and killing insects. In Chetian, this ancient camphor cluster has become an indispensable ecological element—camphors intertwined with houses, people, mulberry trees, and the river—not only adding a stunning landscape to the fields, villages, and the hundreds-of-kilometers-long Xiushui River, but also forming a sturdy, permanent natural barrier protecting the village and riverbanks. No wonder the people of Chetian regard them as sacred, inviolable treasures of the village.

In 1939, the troops of Wang Lingji’s 30th Army Group under the Nationalist Government were stationed in Sandu, and some soldiers set their sights on the ancient camphors of Chetian, planning to cut them down for timber. The villagers of Chetian pleaded with the officers and soldiers, explaining that these ancient camphors were vital to the village’s feng shui and safety, begging them not to fell the trees. An educated villager even wrote a letter to the army commander, urging him to spare the trees, which ultimately saved the ancient camphors from disaster.

In 1957, after the county authorities cut down six scattered large camphor trees outside the ancient cluster for a pontoon bridge project, they attempted to continue logging within the ancient camphor grove. Upon hearing the news, hundreds of villagers rushed to surround the camphors, declaring, “If you must cut, cut us instead!” This deterred the loggers. To prevent their return, the villagers spent the night gathering square iron nails, discarded plow fragments, rake teeth, harrow spikes, and broken iron pot shards from their homes, then drove these metal pieces into the trunks of the camphors one by one. They worked tirelessly for three consecutive days to complete the task. With the trees thus fortified, no axe or saw could penetrate them, ensuring the ancient camphors’ safety.

Today, the ancient camphor cluster of Chetian has garnered special attention from higher authorities, with frequent visits from journalists and cultural workers for photography and interviews. Several years ago, the town government submitted a proposal to establish a camphor corridor along both banks of the Xiushui River within Taiyangsheng, centered around the ancient camphor cluster. Photos of the Chetian camphors have also been included in the *Xiu Shui County Annals*, part of the *Local Chronicles of the People’s Republic of China* series. Even more gratifyingly, in June 2005, the county government designated the Chetian ancient camphor cluster as a state-protected scenic site, erecting plaques at each tree to announce its protected status.

The Xiushui River stretches hundreds of miles, and the ancient camphors of Chetian are one of its finest sights. May this millennia-old natural landscape and riverside ecological forest be cherished forever, and may more visitors come here to enjoy its beauty.

Taiyangsheng Town: A renowned town in southern Jiangnan—Sandu Town, nestled by the river and blessed with picturesque scenery, is the eastern gateway to Xiu Shui County in northwestern Jiangxi. It is a national-level model town for star technology clusters and a provincial key construction town. In 2005, it was awarded the titles of “Sanjingshan Health Town” and “Provincial Civilized Village-Town.”

Sandu Town boasts a long history. Its name originated in the 16th year of the Zhenyuan era (800 AD) during the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, when Fenning County was established, comprising eight townships, including Tai Township divided into ten “du” (subdivisions), with Sandu being the third du of Tai Township. In 1958, the Taiyangsheng People’s Commune was founded and dubbed the “First Commune of Jiangnan.” Sandu Town lies along provincial highways Wuxiu and Kelong... More details about Taiyangsheng Town++