Not Just for Shade: 1,008 Heritage Trees Bearing Local Memories Now Protected in New Taipei

▲ The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau has recently launched an initiative to protect valuable trees. The photo shows an old tree at the Lin Ben Yuan Family Mansion. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau)

Reported by Tsai Wen-jun / Taipei

Is there a special corner around you that carries memories from your childhood to the present—be it a park, a small shop, or even a tree? The New Taipei City Government recently conducted a survey of historic schools, communities, and streets rich in local cultural character. Trees meeting criteria such as age, local significance, historical value, and research potential have been included in a protected list of valuable trees.

Chen Yuan-chuan, head of the Landscape Division at the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau, explained that the protected valuable tree species are mainly selected based on the following:

1. The tree must be over 50 years old
2. The trunk diameter, measured 1.3 meters above ground level, must be at least 90 centimeters
3. The tree must be associated with a meaningful local cultural or historical story

However, Chen also noted that some trees may not meet the first two criteria but still carry deep memories for local residents. As long as they fulfill the third condition, they will still be included in the protection scope.

The stories behind these local old trees could go on for days, Chen said. For example, the green tunnels along Yuanlin Street in Tucheng, the shaded pathways of the Tamsui Martyrs’ Shrine, and the fragrant green corridors of Zhonghua Road in Xindian all hold significant landscape value. In the early days before dikes were built along the Dahan River under the Dahan Bridge in Xinzhuang, many people used sailboats on the river, so tall banyan trees were planted along the banks to tie boats when docking. For early residents, these were all part of their native place memories.

% Even asking about the local old trees could take three days and three nights to fully tell. Chen said, for instance, the green tunnel near the elementary school in the early days was an important area. (Photo / Provided by Dai Zuhui)

Additionally, next to the Jiouciu Temple on Jiouciu Street in Luzhou, there is a jiouciu tree that holds important historical significance for local residents. Legend has it that after Zheng Chenggong defeated the Dutch, he led his army to bury a large amount of ammunition in the area and planted a jiouciu tree as a marker. Later, villagers began to worship the tree as a memorial to Zheng Chenggong, respectfully calling it “Jiouciu Gong.” During the Jiaqing era, when Luzhou residents heard of an impending enemy attack, they went on full alert and prayed to the jiouciu tree. Eventually, the crisis passed, and in gratitude for this miracle, they built the Jiouciu Temple. They also began tying red ribbons to the tree to signify vows or to give thanks. The area and street were thus named Jiouciu Li and Jiouciu Street.

Liao Jung-ching, Director of the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau, stated that every valuable tree bears witness to the lives and cultures of our ancestors and is deeply intertwined with local customs. Therefore, it is very important to register and protect these trees of great significance. In the future, the city will continue to identify and protect more trees that meet the criteria, while strengthening tree maintenance, pest control, and improving ecological habitats to ensure the healthy continuation of these precious trees.