Qinbai

Qinbai

Qinbai

Located on Baishu Ridge in Xihuan Village, about 15 kilometers southwest of Jiexiu City, Qinbai is recorded in the "Jiexiu County Annals" from the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty as follows: “It is said to date back to the Qin Dynasty, and there is a nearby village called Qinsu.” It has a history of over 2,200 years.

Situated on Baishu Ridge in Xiguan Village, about 15 kilometers southwest of Jiexiu City, Qinbai is said to have been planted in the early Qin Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,200 years. The circumference of its trunk base measures 16.7 meters, the height of its canopy is 16 meters, the main trunk stands 2.6 meters tall, and at 1.5 meters above ground, its girth is 11.8 meters, from which ten major branches extend. Each branch averages a circumference of 3.1 meters, with the thickest measuring 4.75 meters. The tree remains lush and evergreen, casting a shade covering nearly 300 square meters. Qinbai is 1.8 meters thicker than the Huangling Xuanyuan Cypress in Shaanxi (with a girth of 10 meters), boasting the largest circumference of any cypress tree in China. As a national first-class protected ancient tree, it is honored as the “No. 1 Cypress in China.”

According to locals, there used to be many structures around this ancient tree, but they have long been destroyed, so villagers cherish the tree deeply. In the summer of 2001, during a prolonged drought when the ancient tree was on the brink of withering, the residents of Xihuan Village—who were struggling to secure drinking water—spent four full days transporting over 200 truckloads of water up the mountain to irrigate the tree.

In 2002, Song Weigui, a farmer entrepreneur from Jiexiu City, invested 30 million yuan to restore the original structures based on the principle of preserving the historical appearance. He also planted tens of thousands of trees, including tens of thousands of cypresses. To ensure an adequate water supply, a water tower was constructed near Qinbai. Nestled at the foot of Mount Mianshan, the 2,200-year-old “No. 1 Cypress in China” is now the centerpiece of the newly opened Qinbai Ridge Tourist Area.

Address: Baishu Ridge, Xihuan Village, 15 kilometers southwest of Jiexiu City

Type: Urban park

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Opening hours:

8:00—18:00

Ticket information:

Gate price: 25.0 yuan