Huangbai Forest

　　　　Huangbai Forest is located along about 130 li of the ancient Micang Road in Dongyupu, approximately twenty kilometers southwest of Nanjiang County. It is now situated on both sides of the Bazhong Second-Class Standard Cement Highway and has been state-owned throughout history. There are currently over 2,800 ancient cypress trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of more than one chi, the tallest reaching over fifty meters, and the largest DBH exceeding two meters. There are also many young trees with a DBH of less than one chi. The forest’s standing timber volume is classified as Class II, amounting to 11,551 cubic meters. Notably, in Luoping Village, Shahe Town, there is a dead tree standing thirty-two meters tall with a DBH of 1.2 meters. Tree-ring analysis indicates it is 525 years old. The trees display a variety of majestic forms; when viewed from a high vantage point, they resemble a green dragon dancing amid the clouds and mist. Venturing deeper into the forest, one truly experiences the beauty described as “mist disperses in the cold air, fragrant flakes drift, thousands of trees line the riverbanks, lush shoots and leaves cluster toward the sky, unafraid of summer sun or winter snow, tree tops cracked and weathered like crouching bears, branches twisted and sturdy as bronze and iron.” Locals have given many of the trees evocative names such as “King of Huangbai Trees” and “Male and Female Cypress,” and numerous beautiful myths and folk tales are associated with them. In 1933, when the Red Army came to Nanjiang, they passed through Huangbai Forest. Nanjiang County

　　They advanced toward Bazhong, Wangcang, and Guangyuan, once camping in the forest. Taking the enemy by surprise, they annihilated three main regiments in the Battle of Gonghuabian and Baimiao, known as the famous Battle of Huanghuabian. Central leaders such as - , - , Wang Shusheng, and - passed through the forest multiple times. To this day, numerous stone inscriptions left by the Red Army can still be found on the rocks in the forest, authentically documenting the policies and principles of the time.
　　The origins of Nanjiang’s Huangbai Forest remain unrecorded in written steles. According to the 1827 edition of the Nanjiang County Annals: “Ancient cypresses line the river east of the county town in Dongyupu, sparse and dense, stretching directly for over a hundred li. From a high vantage point, they resemble a green dragon hiding in the landscape, winding up and down. Locals say that a certain Ming-era county magistrate Yang planted the trees to protect the area, preventing even large creatures from gnawing at the dikes to safeguard people’s land—perhaps a lingering legacy of benevolence akin to the revered Sang tree. It’s a pity there are no steles to verify this.” Furthermore, the 1922 edition of the Nanjiang County Annals states: “From Zhenjiang Temple, twenty li from the county town, to Xiangerhekou, a total of 140 li, the forest is interspersed with dense and sparse areas, with towering old trunks, some dozens of spans around, numbering more than four thousand trees. From a high vantage point, they look like a green dragon.” Since the Qin and Han dynasties, emphasis has been placed on agriculture, sericulture, afforestation, commerce, and road construction. Major roads connected various counties, with “a pavilion every five li and a post station every forty li.” Cypress and pine trees were planted along the roadsides as shade trees, and the ancient road that runs through Huangbai Forest has since ancient times been part of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Micang Post Road. Along the route, there were “shops every five li and inns every ten li,” with these place names still in use today. The most intact sections of the surviving road feature ancient cypresses planted at equal intervals, showing clear signs of artificial cultivation, while the rest grew naturally from fallen seeds. It is widely believed among locals that Huangbai Forest was planted by the Three Kingdoms general Zhang Fei or by a certain Ming-era county magistrate Yang, though the latter is lesser known. Historical records indicate that Zhang Fei passed through Nanjiang, headed for Bazhong, and later governed Langzhong as prefect (214 AD – 227 AD). To report military and political affairs and deliver official documents to Zhuge Liang, and due to frequent warfare and rugged roads often causing delays, he initiated road maintenance and tree planting to mark the way, which was later supplemented by generations of plantings.
　　According to the Mingchanlu (Record of Ming Products): “Tree ownership was officially categorized; whether public (state-owned), private, or official property, illegal logging was punishable as a crime. At the time, trees were divided into official (state-owned) and private (individually owned). Official trees were all considered imperial property. Magistrate Yang had mobilized the public to replant trees and submitted the case to higher authorities. Later, an imperial decree permanently protected the trees, prohibiting their felling, hence the name ‘Huangbai’ (Imperial Cypress), also called ‘Forbidden Cypress.’ Huangbai Forest, with its long history and lush growth, holds significant scientific value for the study of forest ecological environments. It has been state-owned throughout history, with each dynasty assigning special personnel to guard it, maintaining detailed records during handovers. Regulations explicitly stated: damage to a single branch must be reported to the county, damage to a single tree to the province, and theft of any tree punishable by law. After the establishment of New China, a Huangbai Forest Management Office was set up to strengthen management and continuous replanting efforts. In recent years, the provincial forestry department allocated special funds to construct a palace-style building, as well as a stone tablet forest, stone stair pathways, and additional protective measures for the ancient cypresses, to facilitate tourist visits and enjoyment.”