Ginkgo Trees in Tuole

　　The Ginkgo Trees in Tuole are located in Tuole Village, Shiqiao Town, about 35 km from Panxian County Town. The village boasts over 1,200 ancient ginkgo trees, with trunk diameters generally ranging from 50 to 150 cm and the largest reaching up to 220 cm. Most of the trees are over 300 years old, with the oldest being more than 500 years, and their trunks can reach tens of meters in height. Ginkgo trees flourished 300 million to 170 million years ago during the Permian to Triassic and Jurassic periods of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, and only a small number survived in Shandong and Guizhou, China, after the Quaternary Ice Age. They are ancient plants left behind by the Earth and are known as "living fossils." Ginkgo trees have unique and delicate shapes and leaves, with distinct seasonal changes – verdant in spring and golden in autumn. Their fruits, known as "ginkgo nuts," are also used medicinally, making them a rare ornamental tree species.　

　　Legend has it that Tuole was once a highly civilized village. In the past, there was an unwritten rule among the villagers: whether one approached the village from the north or the south via the stone bridge, upon reaching the bridgehead, riders had to dismount and walk into the village, and those in sedan chairs had to get out and walk as well. One day, a man who appeared to be a high-ranking official arrived in Tuole. Whether he was unaware of the local custom or deliberately testing it, he rode a tall horse straight across the small stone bridge and into the village. Suddenly, an elderly man with an otherworldly air spoke up from the roadside

　　"Perhaps you are unaware, but the people of Tuole have long upheld the tradition of hospitality and warmly welcome you here." Before the words had even finished, the elder reached out to shake hands with the mounted guest. Instantly, the visitor’s hand was broken and flesh torn, and he quickly wheeled his horse away. This mysterious legend adds an air of mystique to this scenic ginkgo homeland, enchanting and captivating all who hear it.

　　The layout of the Tuole scenic area is unique. The village consists of 401 farming households, nearly a hundred of which are nestled among the ginkgo groves, with buildings of very refined construction. The Tuole mountain village, rising from the valley, features farmhouses strung along ginkgo trunks, giving the appearance of embracing arms. Moreover, the farmhouses spread across the slopes all face eastward. This orientation allows the morning sun to slide across each household’s lintel each day, greeting them with a “good morning,” and the evening glow to filter through the ginkgo leaves, bidding the villagers “good night.” On the eastern hillside opposite the Tuole mountain village, there stands a uniquely east-facing house — this is the Xilai Temple, which carries yet another layer of legendary color in Tuole. There are no written records of when Xilai Temple was built. Some say that long ago, a Taoist priest arrived here one night and built the temple in a single night, then disappeared without a trace after its completion.

　　Others say the priest practiced and passed away peacefully at the temple. Due to the lack of historical records, its origins are difficult to verify. Today, at Xilai Temple, the only clue to its history is an aged stone tablet inscribed with donations from the villagers during a renovation. The tablet is titled "Eternal Glory," and though the text is blurred, it praises the merits of ancestors. It records how in the 16th year of the Qianlong reign, locals surnamed Gu, Wang, Lu, Bu, and Jiang donated funds and materials to renovate the temple, and the monument was erected in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign in commemoration. Now, although the temple buildings are dilapidated with age, the careful selection of the site and the exquisite craftsmanship are still evident. Standing beside the osmanthus tree in front of the temple, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Tuole ginkgo trees, and visiting in September offers a particularly rich sensory experience with its combination of sights, colors, and fragrances.