Ginkgo in Changxing

Ginkgo in Changxing

　　　　Ginkgo, commonly known as "white fruit tree" or "grandfather-grandson tree," is one of the oldest surviving tree species in the world. It was once distributed globally during the Paleozoic era, but after the Quaternary Ice Age, only China preserved it. During the late Han and Three Kingdoms period, it was already cultivated artificially in the Jiangnan region. Ginkgo grows very slowly but has an extremely long lifespan, generally reaching up to a thousand years. (According to legend, if planted in one’s grandfather’s time, the fruit is harvested by the grandson, hence also called “grandfather-grandson tree.”) In China, there are still ginkgo trees over three thousand years old on Mount Fulai in Juxian County, Shandong Province. This precious tree now numbers over seven thousand six hundred specimens in Changxing County. They are mainly distributed across towns such as Baifu, Hexi, Huikang, Meishan, Baixian, and Taifu. Among them, Fangyan accounts for 65% of the county’s total ginkgo population, yielding about two thousand dan of white fruit annually. Within Changxing Middle School, there are four ancient ginkgo trees over six hundred and eighty years old, with an average height of 11 meters, a trunk diameter of 90 centimeters, and a crown spread of 24 square meters. Additionally, in Jianfeng Wujichang, there is a male ginkgo tree of roughly the same age, with a trunk diameter of 140 centimeters, a tree height of 36 meters, and a crown spread of 400 square meters. In Maoshan, there is a cluster of ginkgo trees over three hundred and seventy years old, with an average trunk diameter of 102 centimeters, heights ranging between twenty-five to thirty meters, and crown spreads reaching 400–600 square meters. These trees are still growing vigorously, producing between 350–400 pounds of white fruit per tree. Even more remarkably, in Xujiatun, there is a ginkgo tree dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, over seven hundred years old, standing nineteen meters tall with a trunk diameter of 108 centimeters and a crown spread of 180 square meters. Although the tree is aging, it still yields 70 pounds of white fruit annually. A small ginkgo tree that sprouted from a seed fallen into a hollow in its trunk now has a trunk diameter of 21 centimeters. The fruit of this ancient ginkgo was appraised by the "Chinese Ginkgo Chronicles Editorial Committee" at a meeting held in Taixing County as: “a prime example of Fozhi white fruit, comparable to 'Dongting Huang'.”

　　　　Ginkgo serves as a fruit tree, timber tree, and ornamental tree all in one, holding great development potential and scientific research value. The details are outlined as follows:

　　　　Ginkgo seeds, or white fruit, are a traditional export commodity. Proven through thousands of years of practice in traditional Chinese medicine, white fruit has astringent, antitussive, and expectorant effects, and provides certain therapeutic benefits for geriatric bronchitis. Especially in the past twenty years, it has been newly discovered to delay aging and moisturize the skin, drawing attention from the international medical community. In Japan, it is used as a high-end nutritional food or as a filler for premium cold creams. Due to its unique nutritional and medicinal value, its price has surged, making it a highly sought-after product.

　　　　Ginkgo wood is solid, with fine grain, elasticity, and resistance to warping, cracking, deformation. It can be used as both a building material and for casting molds, dye rollers, drawing boards, carving, furniture, and fine woodworking—long cherished by people.

　　　　Ginkgo trees grow tall and straight, with full crowns, majestic vigor, and beautiful posture. Their leaves form neat fan shapes—fresh green in spring and summer, golden yellow in autumn, dancing in the wind like thousands of fans, creating a spectacular sight. Ancient temples and monasteries all planted them, and they are also commonly used as ornaments in village gardens. They symbolize the indomitable spirit and noble integrity of an ancient civilization, giving people a sense of righteousness and lofty ambition. In modern cities, they also resist smoke and hydrocarbon pollution, making them an excellent greening tree species.

　　　　With an exceptionally long lifespan, ginkgo has endured through millions of years of geological upheaval while other life forms perished. It remains unscathed, serving as a living historical record. Researchers in the sciences regard ginkgo as a miraculous tree and study it accordingly, hence its title as a “living fossil.” Throughout human history, it stands as a witness to the splendid culture of the Chinese nation—an Eastern sage, a living monument to Chinese civilization. The late archaeologist and scholar Guo Moruo warmly praised the external and inner beauty of ginkgo, believing it embodies the noble traditional spirit of the Chinese nation and represents the incarnation of truth, goodness, and beauty. He called it the “national tree,” a title ginkgo truly deserves.

　　　　Ginkgo trees are dioecious, deciduous trees that flower in mid-April and mature their seeds in late September. The main varieties cultivated in Changxing County include approximately six types: Dafosho (Big Buddha Hand), Zhongfosho (Medium Buddha Hand), Xiaofosho (Small Buddha Hand), Damehai (Big Plum Kernel), Yanzhuzi (Eyeball Seed), among others. Among these, Dafosho (commonly known as Big Long Head) is of the highest quality, followed by Xiaofosho (commonly known as Small Long Head). Dafosho is the only superior variety propagated by grafting. Other varieties have relatively lower commercial value, but Damehai (commonly known as Round Head) is drought-resistant and water-tolerant. Yanzhuzi is a rare local wild variety, tall and vigorous, performing well even during seedling stages, making it suitable for rootstock or afforestation. It also holds timber value.

　　　　Ginkgo in Changxing originates from the Badushan area of Changxing County, Huzhou City. The county still has ginkgo trees over 680 years old, indicating a very long cultivation history. It belongs to the Ginkgoaceae family of deciduous trees, with an extremely long lifespan. The trees are tall and straight, typically exceeding 20 meters in height. The leaves are fan-shaped. Ginkgo trees are dioecious, flowering in mid-April and maturing their seeds in late September. The seeds are oval-shaped with white shells.

　　　　There are ten varieties of ginkgo in Changxing, including Dafosho (Big Head), Zhongfosho, Xiaofosho, Damehai (Round Head), Xiaomeihai, and Yanzhuzi. Dafosho dominates, being the highest in quality. Next is Damehai, which resists cold and waterlogging. Yanzhuzi is a rare local wild variety, vigorous in growth, suitable for grafting or afforestation. Ginkgo is a precious species with excellent timber quality and high economic value. It is also an outstanding tree for improving the ecological environment and purifying air. Its seeds, called white fruit, offer various benefits such as astringency, antitussive, and expectorant effects. It can also serve as a high-end nutritional food and premium cold cream filler.

　　　　Changxing County boasts a long history, abundant resources, and high-quality ginkgo. Farmers possess rich production experience, and the potential for further development is significant.

　　　　Historical Origins

　　　　The Ancient Ginkgo Corridor is located within the Ten-Mile Ancient Ginkgo Corridor in Badu Gorge, Xiaopu Town, western Changxing County. It is one of the county’s three major ancient ecological wonders, acclaimed as the “Hometown of World Ginkgo.” Over 30,000 native ginkgo trees span more than ten kilometers, forming a rare ecological spectacle. The terrain here is gentle, nestled against mountains and waterways, with a rich configuration of rare species such as ancient ginkgo, bamboo forests, green plum trees, and organic tea trees.

　　　　Badu Gorge got its name when Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, evaded pursuers eight times while he was still a prince. The gorge features verdant mountains, flowing streams, and a 12.5-kilometer-long ginkgo forest that creates a scenic line characterized by “primitiveness, wilderness, and wonder.” People acclaim, “Travel the world’s sights, yet rarely see a ginkgo forest.” In other regions, ginkgo is regarded as a “sacred tree” or “feng shui tree,” often planted alone in front of temples or villages.

　　　　Six Wonders of Ginkgo

　　　　First Wonder: Ginkgo is a “living fossil.” When paleontologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences studied “Changxing Limestone,” they compared 200-million-year-old “ginkgo fossils” with today’s Changxing ginkgo trees and found no variation—proving the well-deserved title of “living fossil.” Ginkgo gets its name because its fruit resembles apricot but has a white kernel like silver. It is a dioecious gymnosperm, existing on Earth over 270 million years ago, thus earning the title “world’s oldest tree.” A poem praises it: “A great dragon-like tree gathers lords beneath, smoke and clouds veil the floating mound. Its form divides into lotus petals, its texture compares to spiral hair curls.”

　　　　Second Wonder: Changxing is the homeland of world ginkgo. Geological and paleontological experts worldwide have determined that Earth has undergone six mass extinctions over 2.5 billion years. During the 3-million-year Quaternary Ice Age in the Cenozoic Era, ginkgo nearly went extinct. The entire world retained it only in the Tianmushan range extension areas like Changxing, before it spread across the country. It was introduced to Japan in the Song Dynasty, then to Europe via Japan, and later to the Americas from Europe. On January 13, 1996, the Chinese-language newspaper China Times (English edition) reported under the headline “Ginkgo That Defied the Ice Age” and subheading “Spread from Changxing to the World,” which was later reprinted by over 80 countries and regions. This fact is recognized by the International Geological Paleontological Association. Therefore, ginkgo is the “county tree” of Changxing, celebrated for its characteristics of “longevity, prosperity, wonder, and divinity.”

　　　　Third Wonder: Changxing ginkgo is linked to three emperors. Legend says that when Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han, fled as a prince, he roasted and ate ginkgo to stave off hunger in Badu Gorge. A poem commemorates: “A touch of ash and low flame meet briefly, slight bitterness with subtle sweetness at its peak. Chicken heads may not match duck feet, but why not pair ginkgo with golden peaches?” After Chen Baxian from Changxing became emperor, he personally planted a ginkgo tree at Xiashang Temple in his hometown and fished for dragon fish in Badu Gorge (Sichen Pool). According to Wu Daying, a late forestry expert and member of the editorial committee for the Chinese Ginkgo Chronicles, ginkgo was originally called “baiguo” (white fruit) by locals in Changxing. In the Song Dynasty, ginkgo was offered as tribute to the emperor, who, seeing its resemblance to small apricots with white kernels, bestowed upon it the name “ginkgo.” The throne of the Northern Song emperor was crafted from twelve ginkgo wood panels, with those from Changxing chosen for their fine grain to make the seat.

　　　　Fourth Wonder: The “Three Treasures” of Badu Gorge are all top-tier in China. The plant community in the gorge forms a “three-story tower”—tall ginkgo trees stand above, beneath them a forest of plum trees, and below that lush layers of tea bushes. This is the classic “Three Treasures” of Badu Gorge: white ginkgo, unmatched nationally; black dark plum, a holy grail in medicine; green Zisun tea, a gold award winner at the Beijing Agricultural Expo. Lu Yu, author of the Tang Dynasty classic The Classic of Tea, visited Badu Gorge to study tea. Li Shizhen, author of the Ming Dynasty’s Compendium of Materia Medica, came here to study dark plum. Wu Cheng’en drew inspiration from Qingfeng Cave in Badu Gorge for the Black Wind Cave in Journey to the West. In modern times, master artist Wu Changshuo inscribed the plaque “A Temple for All Ages” for the Guanyin Temple in the Ginkgo Corridor.

　　　　Fifth Wonder: Ginkgo has unique medicinal and health benefits. Japanese merchants have tested ginkgo from twelve major producing regions in China and found that Changxing ginkgo contains significantly higher levels of five nutrients: pentose polysaccharides, arginine, sitosterol, and protein. As a result, Changxing ginkgo leads in foreign trade. The ESR testing by Fudan University’s Analysis and Testing Center detected 0.06 μg/g germanium and 18 μg/g selenium in century-old ginkgo trees from Changxing—elements absent in ginkgo from other regions—giving it unique immune-boosting, anti-cancer, and anti-aging properties. Mature ginkgo forests release a type of hydrogen that enters the body through respiration and skin, providing anti-cancer effects. Badu Gorge has never had a liver cancer case, and elderly residents over 70 have few age spots. Locals deeply understand ginkgo’s benefits for cardiovascular health, cough relief, and beauty, making it a beloved food. Historical fact: Changxing produced Empress Jing, Noble Consort Qian, and Noble Consort Zhang during the Chen Dynasty, and Noble Consort Xu and Noble Consort Shen during the Tang Dynasty—all grew up in Changxing eating ginkgo, contributing to their renowned beauty and selection as imperial consorts.

　　　　Sixth Wonder: Ginkgo is a money tree. Xiaopu Town, where Badu Gorge is located, has built a “Ten-Thousand-Mu Ginkgo Town,” with 5,000 mu of bearing trees and 3,500 mu of semi-productive forest, yielding 360 tons of ginkgo annually. The per capita income of the ten administrative villages in Badu Gorge is nearly one thousand yuan. Within the “Ginkgo Corridor,” there are 2,348 ancient ginkgo trees over 100 years old, 376 over 300 years, and 11 over 500 years. One remarkable “embracing-son” ginkgo tree, over 1,200 years old, still produces over 100 pounds of fruit annually. Additionally, Changxing’s “ginkgo bonsai” are uniquely elegant and have won national awards.