Ruyi Jingu Bang
“Ruyi Jingu Bang” is actually a century-old elm tree by the shores of Heaven Lake. Legend has it that when the Queen Mother of the West held a grand peach banquet by the Jade Pool, all the deities were invited to the feast—except for the water monster of Heaven Lake. Enraged at being left out, the monster stirred up trouble, causing dark clouds to gather, fierce winds to howl, and towering waves to crash.
The Queen Mother, in her fury, plucked a jade hairpin from her hair and threw it into the lake to subdue the monster. Later, the jade hairpin transformed into this large elm tree, which has thrived for thousands of years on the northern shore of Heaven Lake. At an altitude of 1,915 meters, the environment is generally unsuitable for elm trees to grow—yet this solitary tree stands tall and has never been submerged by the lake’s waters, a marvel that never ceases to amaze visitors.
Urumqi, Xinjiang
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