Millennium-old Elm Tree

　　   The trunk of the millennium-old elm tree stands nearly 16 meters tall, with a crown diameter of 23 meters. Known locally as the "Divine Tree," it is the oldest and largest elm tree in the Mudanjiang River basin and can be regarded as a living fossil among trees.

　　   Locals refer to it as the "Divine Tree" because they believe it possesses spiritual power and can ward off disasters for the poor. According to folklore, sick children who recognize the "Divine Tree" as their mother often recover without treatment, hence it has countless descendants. One interviewee, Grandma Jiang from Jiangxi Village, recalled her own grandmother saying that the tree was already this tall when she was a child. Some local parents, worried about their children's health, have their kids recognize the tree as an honorary mother, hoping they will grow up healthy and live long lives just like the millennium-old elm. Particularly for children believed to be lacking the wood element in their birth chart, their mothers often bring them to the tree to tie red ribbons, offer sacrifices, and kowtow to acknowledge the tree as their honorary mother, in hopes of easing the elders' worries. Thanks to Lianhua’s picturesque landscape, pleasant climate, favorable weather, and abundant produce, children who were once weak and sick gradually become healthier. In the past, people attributed this to the spiritual power of the Divine Tree, and over time, it became widely known by that name. This tree has stood here for hundreds of years, surviving countless floods and droughts, yet remaining vibrant and majestic through it all.

　　   Since January 10, 2011, when the Linkou County Party Committee and County Government successfully hosted the first China • Linkou Rime Festival, the site has attracted photography enthusiasts from across the country, making this millennium-old elm the “Divine Tree” captured in their lenses.