Kekete Daban

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Tour Guide:

The ancient tree cluster growing around the Sacred Spring includes two of the largest five-angled maples, which were listed in the *Yunnan Ancient Trees Directory* in 1996.

Points of Interest:

A villager from Yulong Village once broke off branches from the sacred tree in the 1960s. Later, he developed sores all over his body, suffered from persistent high fever, and was bedridden for months with no improvement. With no other options, he sought help from a Dongba (a Naxi priest), who instructed him to plant a sapling under the sacred tree as a gesture of repentance. He eventually recovered from his illness. The tree planted by that villager is the willow tree you can see today.

Introduction:

The ancient tree cluster serves as guardians of the Naxi Sacred Spring. Climbing the trees is strictly prohibited, and those who violate this taboo will face severe punishment from nature. This is how the Naxi people protect the water sources and trees. Even the bees living on the five-angled maples have never been disturbed and have resided in the sacred trees for untold years. Around the Sacred Spring are six circular stone huts, used by the Naxi people for outdoor meals after worshipping the nature gods. Though we have made appropriate restorations to shield against wind and fire, traditional usage habits remain unchanged and have been preserved as they were.

Transportation:

Take a bus from the Lijiang County Bus Station bound for Yushui Village.

Yunnan, Lijiang