Wonderful sight: A century-old tree in Taipei pierces through the roof of a single-story house, coexisting with humans for 60 years

▲In Taipei city, there is a wonder tree that grows through an old house and emerges from the roof.

Reported and photographed by You T-Ru / Taipei

Located at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Nanhai Road, in front of Taipei’s South Gate Market, stands what is known as “Taipei’s No. 1 Wonder Tree.” Inside an old single-story house that has stood for decades, the trunk of the tree grows up from the ground, extends through the house, and spreads out over the roof. The entire home is shaded by green leaves, forming a unique scene of “tree-house symbiosis.”


▲%The sacrificial offerings are displayed under the branches.

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▲Since 1996, Mr. Gao Zhongxin has adopted the tree.

The story of this old tree goes back to 1895, when a sapling of a board-leaved tree took root here. In 1946, the Gao family moved to this location and built their house around the tree. Having coexisted with the tree for decades, the Gaos began expanding their residence as their descendants multiplied. At the time, the family believed their good health and fortune were due to the tree’s blessing. To avoid damaging the tree during construction, they carved an arc into the floorboards around the trunk so the tree could continue to grow.

Even in an era when feng shui beliefs were widely held, the old tree freely grew through the Gao family’s bedroom, creating a peculiar sight. “The tree growing inside the house doesn’t attract bugs at all,” said Mr. Gao, who now runs a fast-food shop on the ground floor of the treehouse. Although many doubt that plants growing indoors can attract mosquitoes, this century-old board-leaved tree has never caused any bug or odor problems for the family. On the contrary, during the tree’s flowering season, neighbors can smell a unique fragrance in the air.


▲Currently, Mr. Gao runs a fast-food shop on the ground floor.

This century-old board-leaved tree, named “Auspicious Tree” by the Gao family, still grows at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Nanhai Road. Though the house is now unoccupied, Mr. Gao continues to preserve the tree. On sunny days, passersby can see sunlight streaming onto the Auspicious Tree, with sunbeams filtering through the leaves and scattering onto the ground — a rare urban scene.


▲On sunny days, passersby can see sunlight streaming onto the Auspicious Tree, with sunbeams filtering through the leaves and scattering onto the ground.