Intertwined Pines

　　       One of the Ten Famous Pines of Huangshan, included in the World Heritage List. Located on the left side of the path from “Black Tiger Pine” to “Beginning-to-Believe Peak.” The tree stands over 20 meters tall and splits into two trunks about 2 meters above the ground. The two trunks grow side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with almost identical thickness and height.     Since the term “intertwined” is often used as a metaphor for a married couple, the legend associated with this pine also tells the poignant love story of Emperor Tang Minghuang and Yang Guifei. It is said that the two once pledged on Qixi Festival to meet again in Huangshan after a hundred years, to cultivate their spirits and become intertwined once more. After their deaths, they indeed traveled together to Huangshan and, captivated by the beauty of the place, transformed into the Intertwined Pines.    

　　 Huangshan City, Anhui Province