Guarding an 800-year-old giant ( 2003-11-03 08:53) (China Daily)
It's not the oldest tree in China, but the 800-year-old pine tree on Mt
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) in East China's Anhui Province is certainly the
most celebrated in the nation - and perhaps the world.
The much photographed Pinus Hwangahanensis is not only a tourist attraction,
but the only tree known to have a 24-hour "bodyguard service" which was started
in 1983 and has involved 16 guardians.
As if stretching to
welcome visitors, the 800-year old Yingkesong at Jade Screen Peak shows
off its nearly 14-metre crown at Mt Huangshan in East China's Anhui
Province. [File photo]
Wang Henglai, an official of the administration of Huangshan, a UNESCO World
Natural and Cultural Heritage site, deems the effort as "worth it," saying the
pine tree "is so precious that we must ensure nothing bad, naturally or
artificially, happens to her."
Known as Yingkesong or Guest Greeting Pine, the tree growing in the hard
granite rocks at 1,680 metres above sea level at the Yellow Mountain's Jade
Screen Peak stretches its nearly 14-metre crown like a man welcoming visitors
with open arms.
Because of its unusual posture, the image of Yingkesong has been used to
display Chinese people's hospitality since the 1950s, when China had diplomatic
relations with only a handful of countries. A screen depicting the pine tree in
the Great Hall of the People in Beijing has become a traditional backdrop for
Chinese leaders to have pictures taken with visiting foreign guests. Among the
most famous is a 1972 portrait of Premier Zhou Enlai with US President Richard
Nixon.
That is why Shen Chengxiao, the pine tree's current and 16th guardian,
regards Yingkesong, just over 10 metres tall, as much more than a spectacular
landmark.
"It's a symbol of the country, and a treasure of the world," says the
26-year-old forest ranger, who lives in a tiny hut right beside the tree.
Shen was selected from over 60 rangers in the park, which covers an area of
154 square kilometres, to guard the tree day and night. He describes his mission
as "making sure no one could ever bring any damage to it," and like his
predecessors, he's been keeping a journal for the special tree.
Responsible job
Not every forest ranger suits the job, says Wang Henglai. The guardian of the
pine tree "must be highly responsible and very smart." Indeed, Shen, a
demobilized soldier, is as proud and alert as he would be safeguarding a
national border.
Shen Chengxiao, the
16th guardian of the Yingkesong pine, carefully observes changes on the
trunk of the tree. [China Daily]
On an average day, Shen notes, 3,000 to 4,000 people make a pilgrimage to the
tree. "I see to it no one does anything that may harm the growth of the tree,
like trying to cross the fence and go near it out of curiosity, or attempting to
smoke around it," he says. "You never know."
Several times a day he observes the movements of the pine tree's twigs, notes
the colours of the bark and needles, and records the information. The
observations also extend to nearby trees, for their diseases could affect
Yingkesong, Shen explains. If he notices anything abnormal, such as darkened
needles in a neighbouring pine, he reports it immediately and plant experts are
dispatched to check the area for disease or insect pests.
In his diary on August 21 this year, Shen wrote: "Big storm last night. Wind
of force 5-6. Got up at midnight, holding a lamp in the rain to watch Yingkesong
closely for more than 20 minutes. The top branch swung back and forth, while the
bottom twigs trembled hard. The storm however didn't harm the tree, thanks to
the sustainable iron rope to protect it. Yingkesong looks greener and more
vibrant this morning after a baptism of the rain. Stopped several tourists from
smoking in front of the tree in daytime."
Shen says he has learned to tend the trees from plant experts and his
predecessors. All the previous 15 guardians took care of the tree as if it was a
baby.
Wang Henglai explains that the special bodyguard service was started in 1983
after a branch of the tree was found twisted by the pressure of heavy snow.
"The branch staunchly survived for several more years before it finally
died," says Shen. "Since then an iron rope was installed to help adjust the
strain the tree branches have to endure from nature." And the guardians have
learned to alleviate such strain when necessary.
Qu Xinghui, Shen's immediate predecessor and Yingkesong's 15th guardian, once
got up at 2:30 in the morning after a heavy snow. He noted in the diary dated
December 20, 2001, that he swept off the snow on the branches then used a bamboo
pole to break the ice on the needles. That night the temperature dropped to 16 C
below zero, but Yingkesong looks fine."
Qu, Shen and all the other guardians are all admirers of Yingkesong and other
pine trees around Mt Huangshan. "They are so special," says Shen. "They grow in
extremely adverse conditions, enduring little soil, high altitude and harsh
elements like strong winds and storms. But they manage to take root in hard
rocks and survive miraculously."
What irritates the guardians most is the rumour that the Guest Greeting Pine
people see at the Yellow Mountains is "fake."
"I've come across a number of tourists inquiring about its authenticity, and
it's so annoying," says Shen.
For those who break the rules against smoking or trespassing, Shen says the
forest rangers will stop them but impose no punishment or fine. "Our philosophy
is to educate people," says the guardian who has finished a correspondence
course on management.
Simple life
Life for the guardians of Yingkesong is by no means dramatic. "It's boring in
a way," Shen Chengxiao admits, glancing at his hut equipped with a single bed
and a bunkbed, a desk, and a TV set that can only pick up a local channel and a
couple of China Central Television programmes.
Sharing the room with another two forest rangers, Shen normally goes to bed
around 9:30 pm after finishing writing his diary. He is also learning to speak
English from recordings. "I think English would be useful, which could enable me
to talk about Yingkesong to foreign tourists."
Since he became the special pine tree's guardian in July, Shen, a native of
Taiping Town 10 kilometres away from Mt Huangshan, has not had a chance for a
home visit and he could not tell when he could see his mother.
"It's not because I don't miss home. But Yingkesong is like a baby who needs
me to tend her," he said. Along with her 53 siblings of ancient pines and
precious trees, Yingkesong is included on the World Natural Heritage
List.
