The Millennium Ginkgo Tree in Luyi

The Millennium Ginkgo Tree in Luyi

The famous scenic spot in Luyi County — the Millennium White Fruit Tree — is located 9 kilometers northeast of Luyi County, to the east of Sunying Village in Waobei Town, bordering the Huaiji River to the north, with the Xumu Expressway passing right by it.

Legend has it that this tree was planted by Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, and it remains lush and vibrant. The tree stands 50 meters tall, with a circumference of 9.5 meters, and its shade covers 60 square meters — it takes five adults holding hands to encircle the trunk. This ancient tree is renowned across eastern Henan and northern Anhui, truly the king of trees.

The white fruit tree is actually called the ginkgo tree, a deciduous tree belonging to the Ginkgoaceae family. Due to its long lifespan, it is also referred to as the "grandfather-grandson" tree and is known as a living fossil. All parts of the ginkgo tree have significant uses, drawing high interest from scientists. Its leaves and fruits can be made into premium health supplements, effective in treating stubborn conditions such as arteriosclerosis, brain dysfunction, and cognitive decline.

Why is there a ginkgo tree planted on the banks of the Huaiji River in Waobei Town? According to historical records and local legends, in the second year after Wang Mang seized power from the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu led his soldiers in battle against Wang Mang’s forces at Jiyang (now northeast of Lankao, Henan). Outnumbered, he was defeated and driven by Wang Mang’s army to Lailing (during Wang Mang’s rule, Ku County was renamed Lailing, now Luyi County, then part of Chen State in Yuzhou). Just as Liu Xiu faced desperation, suddenly the sky darkened, fierce winds and heavy rain followed, and visibility dropped to zero. Soon after, the wind subsided, the clouds cleared, and the sun shone again — out of the gloom appeared an old man who led Liu Xiu and his scattered troops to a small village (now the location of the ginkgo tree by the Huaiji River) to rest. Thinking Liu Xiu’s forces had retreated, Wang Mang’s army left. Still suspicious of the enemy, Liu Xiu felt the place was unsafe for prolonged stay, so he changed direction, passed through Chen State (Huaiyang), and went to Nandun County (now Nandun Town, Xiangcheng City), where he found refuge with his uncle, who was the local county magistrate.

In the late Western Han Dynasty, Liu Xuan, the King of Chen and Huaiyang, defeated Wang Mang in 23 AD, ending his 17-year usurpation. Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu ascended the throne in 25 AD, marking the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After becoming emperor, Liu Xiu never forgot the place where he was saved, and personally planted a sacred white fruit tree as a gesture of gratitude.

Even after more than two thousand years of wind, frost, rain, and dew, the white fruit tree remains full of vitality. As the hometown of Laozi, the origin of Taoism, the ancestral home of the Taoist faith, and the root of the Li surname, this millennium-old tree has now become a famous tourist attraction in Luyi. Next to this ancient tree, the public raised funds to rebuild a temple dedicated to the Yellow Emperor, which enjoys thriving incense offerings.

Source: Luyi County People's Government Website