A nationwide ginkgo viewing map has been released! It's autumn season in these 12 places! Don't miss out before autumn is gone!
Preface
As the saying goes, every autumn rain brings a chill. This year, the four seasons have truly been "spring, summer, and winter," with temperatures so low that it feels like autumn has never even arrived. But the more times like this, the more we want to catch the tail end of the season, to see those unique elements of autumn, to find some scenery that brings us that warm feeling of autumn, like... ginkgo trees?
Whenever autumn deepens, ginkgo trees all over the country "explode" one after another.
In the ancient Guanyin Temple in Xi'an, the 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree, which is said to have been planted by Li Shimin himself, is once again covered in golden color.
I admire ginkgo trees every year. Besides the warm colors they bring, what else is worth knowing about them?
Witness the 270 million years of species on Earth
Ginkgo, one of the oldest tree species in the world, is a rare relic from the Mesozoic Era. After 270 million years on Earth, it still blooms so brilliantly.
It has survived countless mass extinctions. It vanished from North America 5 million years ago and from Europe 2.6 million years ago, only to escape extinction when it encountered humans. It took root in the humid and warm southern China and later grew in every corner of the country.
Picture @Gu Guanyin Zen Temple Official Account
In China, there are approximately 100 ginkgo trees over 1,000 years old, but wild ginkgo trees are on the brink of extinction. Many ginkgo experts believe that wild, naturally reproducing ancient ginkgo populations exist only in remote mountainous areas such as Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang Province, Dahong Mountain in Hubei Province, and Shennongjia. Most ginkgo trees seen today are cultivated. At your doorstep, on the street, in your town, you can stumble into a world of warm golden blossoms with just a glance or a step.
The cultivation of ginkgo spread from China to Japan and South Korea, and then to Europe. Peter Crane said in "Ginkgo: The Tree Forgotten by Time" that "Ginkgo is a precious gift from China to the world."
The whole body is a treasure, beautiful, delicious and easy to use
Ginkgo is a highly prized, high-quality wood species. Its delicate structure, light, soft, and elastic texture make it easy to work. The resulting furniture and decorations are lustrous and resistant to cracking. The seat of the Northern Song Dynasty emperor's dragon throne was made from ginkgo trees from Changxing.
Ginkgo biloba fruit, commonly known as "white nut," contains a variety of nutrients. Both its fruit and leaves have therapeutic and medical properties, and its leaves can be used as medicine, pesticides, and fertilizers, truly earning its title as a "living fossil." After reading this, I've compiled the latest 2021 national ginkgo viewing map, showcasing the most beautiful places to enjoy ginkgo trees. Come check it out!
Design@Bai Ze
Tips for ginkgo viewing season 👇
Ginkgo in the temple
The ginkgo trees in the temple have a scent of incense. The sacred Buddhist tree Bodhi tree has difficulty surviving the winter in the north, so ancient monks used ginkgo trees instead of Bodhi trees. The ginkgo trees in the temple are full of autumn colors.
01 Ancient Guanyin Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi
đź“ŤChang'an District, Xi'an, Shaanxi
In the golden autumn of October, the 800-li Zhongnan Mountains are ablaze with vibrant colors, a scene of stunning beauty. Inside the ancient Guanyin Zen Temple at the foot of Fenghuang Ridge in Zhongnan Mountain, the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, known as the "most beautiful ginkgo," welcomes its most splendid moment of the year.
Picture @Gu Guanyin Zen Temple Official Account
At over 1,400 years old, this is probably the most famous ginkgo tree in China! Legend has it that it was planted by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin.
Picture @Guguanyin Zen Temple Weibo
At this time of year every year, it becomes extremely difficult to see the ginkgo trees in the ancient Guanyin Temple, and tourists come from all directions to catch a glimpse of their thousand-year-old beauty.
Picture @Gu Guanyin Zen Temple Official Account
But with only 3,000 reservations per day, it’s even harder to get one than on Double Eleven. Plus, the recent epidemic doesn’t allow it, so this time I can only look at the pictures to satisfy my craving!
02 Dinglin Temple, Rizhao, Shandong
đź“ŤNo. 1001, Fulai West Road, Ju County, Rizhao City, Shandong Province
The ginkgo tree at Dinglin Temple on Fulai Mountain is 3,500 years old and is probably the oldest ginkgo tree in the world. It is known as the "No. 1 Ginkgo Tree in the World."
“If you haven’t visited Fulai Mountain in autumn, you can’t talk about autumn.”
In about ten days, this nearly 4,000-year-old ginkgo tree will usher in its most prosperous and stunning moment of the year.
03Beijing Tanzhe Temple
đź“ŤMentougou District in western Beijing
In the season of melodious ancient music, fragrant tea and falling golden ginkgo leaves, this "Emperor Tree" in Tanzhe Temple in autumn has a history of more than 1,300 years.
Perhaps because it has been hidden in the ancient temple for thousands of years, it has absorbed some spiritual energy, and its bloom is even more brilliant and golden.
Ginkgo trees in the village
The ginkgo trees in the village are closely connected with people's lives. After the hustle and bustle of the holiday, their time begins.
01 Tuole Village, Guiyang, Guizhou
đź“ŤTuole Village, Panzhou County, Guizhou Province
This is Tuole, the world's hometown of ancient ginkgo trees, home to thousands of them, the youngest over 300 years old and the oldest over 500. Experts believe that such a concentrated and continuous ancient ginkgo village, so well integrated into the village, is a rare sight in the world.
In autumn, the branches of the ginkgo trees stretch out in all directions from the paths, ridges, under the house foundations, and on the stone steps, supporting the entire Tuole Village on the roots of the trees. The layers of green leaves in summer have all turned golden yellow.
Fallen leaves covered the stone paths and black-tiled houses. Even the clear stream and stone bridge in the village were decorated with gold by the fan-shaped ginkgo leaves.
02 Ginkgo Village, Tengchong, Yunnan
đź“ŤJiangdong Village, Gudong Town, Tengchong, Yunnan
The Ginkgo Village in Tengchong is known as the "No. 1 Ginkgo Kingdom in the World". The ginkgo trees here are like the village in the forest and the trees in the homes. Every household is full of ginkgo trees. The whole village looks like an oil painting in autumn.
There are more than 30,000 ancient ginkgo trees here, more than 50 of which are over 500 years old, producing more than 100,000 kilograms of ginkgo nuts annually. The village's king ginkgo tree is over 1,300 years old. Its ancient and vigorous appearance is like a giant umbrella supporting the sky.
The movie "Wuxia" and the variety show "Go Fighting" were both filmed here. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts and a golden dreamland in autumn and winter.
03Guilin, Guangxi Ocean Township
đź“ŤHaiyang Township, Lingchuan County, Guilin City, Guangxi
Lingchuan Haiyang Township, located in the south of the south, is known as "China's No. 1 Ginkgo Township". It secretly hides the beautiful autumn scenery of northern Guangxi.
Every October, more than one million ginkgo trees turn yellow and their leaves drift down the paths, streams, and rooftops, instantly turning the area into a golden ocean.
The age of the ginkgo trees here is generally 30-50 years. There are more than 17,000 trees over 100 years old. The oldest one is 1,000 years old and is called the "Ginkgo King".
The ancient Qing Dynasty residences in Datongmuwan Village are well preserved, while Xiaotongmuwan Village has fewer tourists and the ginkgo trees are younger but denser.
04Zhejiang Lin'an·Zhi Nan Village
đź“ŤTaihuyuan Town, Lin'an District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Zhinan Village is located at the foot of Tianmu Mountain in the east of Lin'an, on the bank of Nanshao Creek, the source of Taihu Lake. There are nearly 300 ancient ginkgo trees over 200 years old here.
Zhinan Village is known in the outdoor circle as one of the most beautiful ancient villages in East China. It also has 8 ancient maple trees that are 800-1000 years old. When autumn comes, the red and yellow colors intertwine, which is definitely the most beautiful fairy tale in autumn.
05 Yangjia Village, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
đź“ŤFuyang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
At the junction of Fuyang, Lin'an and Tonglu, every November, thousands of ginkgo trees are spread across the countryside within a radius of several kilometers, and the air is filled with pastoral poetry. This is Yangjia Village, the hometown of ginkgo in Zhejiang.
The sunlight shines through the golden leaves, illuminating the village's mist and smoke, as if time has slowed down.
06 Siming Mountain, Ningbo, Zhejiang
đź“ŤZhangshui Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province
Maohuo Ancient Village is an ancient village hidden deep in the mountains, and is known as the "No. 1 Ancient Tree Village in Eastern Zhejiang".
There are only more than 300 villagers here. For more than 400 years, successive generations of villagers have carefully protected hundreds of towering ancient trees, and now it has become the "Siming Maohuo Ancient Tree Park".
Among the nearly one hundred ancient and famous trees, the ancient ginkgo tree is the most famous. The diameter at breast height of a large ginkgo tree reaches 1.32 meters.
In autumn, Siming Mountain is covered with beautiful red maples.
Ginkgo in the City
As autumn arrives in modern cities, the style of "the whole city is covered in golden armor" begins to take off.
01 Tianping Mountain, Suzhou, Jiangsu
đź“ŤWuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
Tianping Mountain is located in Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is known as the "No. 1 Mountain in Wuzhong" and "Scenic Spot in Jiangnan". In autumn, many ginkgo trees are in full bloom.
Baiyun Temple, which was first built in the Tang Dynasty, is planted with many ancient ginkgo trees. The ginkgo trees in the San Taishi Temple have long turned yellow and are as bright as gold.
In addition to ginkgo trees, Tianping Mountain is even more famous for its maple leaves. As one of the three major places in China for viewing maple leaves, in late autumn, when you climb up to the Baiyunwangfeng Terrace and look out, you will see a sea of ​​​​coral and a sea of ​​red clouds.
02 Pizhou, Xuzhou, Jiangsu
đź“ŤTiefu Town, Pizhou City, Jiangsu Province
The history of ginkgo cultivation in Pizhou is very long, with records dating back to the Northern Wei Dynasty. There is a Ginkgo Road here known as the "Ginkgo Time Tunnel", with golden leaves hanging on the branches.
The 3,000-meter road is paved with golden leaves, and walking along it feels like entering a time tunnel in a fairytale world. The world's largest ginkgo park - Ginkgo Expo Park.
There are more than 10,000 ancient ginkgo trees over a hundred years old, more than 10 ginkgo trees over a thousand years old, and the "Ginkgo King" has a history of more than 1,000 years. It is definitely worth a visit!
03Changxing, Huzhou, Zhejiang
đź“ŤFangyi Village, Xiaopu Town, Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province
As the home of the world's first ginkgo, Changxing holds a special place in the Jiangnan region. Known as the "Hometown of Ginkgo," the ginkgo tree was first introduced to Japan and Europe.
The Ginkgo Corridor is located in Badu Village, Xiaopu District, Changxing County. Autumn in Changxing is hidden in this small mountain village. With each autumn breeze and rain, the emerald green ginkgo leaves quietly turn golden. The sturdy and upright ginkgo trees line the road, forming a long golden corridor.
The 12.5-kilometer corridor has 30,000 ginkgo trees, including more than 2,700 that are over 100 years old.
"Golden sky, golden earth, golden world, wandering in the Ginkgo Corridor like a painting" is the most appropriate description of the ten-mile Ginkgo Corridor in Badu Ridge.
Conclusion
Every place boasts exceptional ginkgo trees, but due to its vast distribution across China, it's impossible to list them all. See a species that has lived on Earth for 270 million years, and enjoy a roll in its golden paradise!
