Emperor Taizong’s Hand-Planted Ginkgo Turns Golden Yellow Across the Ground

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
Inside Guanyin Temple in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, stands a 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree, said to have been planted by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. From mid-November onward, the tree’s yellow leaves begin to fall and scatter across the ground, creating a golden carpet that attracts a continuous stream of visitors drawn by its stunning beauty.

Guanyin Temple was built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and is one of the ancient temples in Xi’an’s Zhongnan Mountains. This ginkgo tree, planted by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin himself, has a history of over 1,400 years and is listed in the national directory of protected ancient and famous trees. Ginkgo trees are mainly found in provinces such as Guizhou, Shandong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hebei, Hubei, and Henan. China boasts the largest number of ancient ginkgo trees in the world, though they remain quite rare. The world’s oldest ancient ginkgo tree is located in Fuquan, Guizhou, with an age estimated between 5,000 and 6,000 years. Meanwhile, the Tuole Ancient Ginkgo Scenic Area in Guizhou is home to the highest density and best-preserved ancient ginkgo trees in the world.