In the blink of an eye, late autumn has arrived, strolling through the streets and alleys of Suzhou, have you ever stopped for a moment for the ginkgo biloba in the city?Are you curious, what old things are behind these ginkgo?On December 3rd, the volunteers of the Wu Culture Museum's "Tree Monument Biography" project team went to Dongshan Town, which is known as the "hometown of ginkgo", to approach a long period of time and meet several century-old and thousand-year-old ginkgo trees.
The route of this tree hunting tour is:Wuxiang Village, Wuxiang Street, Huwan Village, Dongshan Temple, Baisha Village, Guandi Temple, Baisha Village, Jige Village, Yangwan Village, Zhangxiang, Beiwang Village, Lingxia, Husha Village, Liu Gongtang, Chawan Village, Huangyangpeng, Baifenli.
You might as well follow in our footsteps and look for the bright autumn mood hidden under the pink walls and tiles.
Wuxiang Street, Wuxiang Village - No. Wuzhong 84 85
A 48-meter-tall ginkgo tree.
Two ginkgo trees known as "husband and wife trees" (but both bear white fruits).
Following the positioning and walking through Wuxiang Village, suddenly a touch of bright yellow broke into the sight, and we couldn't help but speed up the pace. Rounding the last corner, two ginkgo trees come into view, one male and one female, growing next to each other, both marked as 1012 years old, known locally as "husband and wife trees" (but a field trip found that both trees bear white fruits). If you look closely, the ginkgo biloba numbered Wuzhong 85 stands against the wall, and the trunk is extremely thick, and only about four to five people can hug it. Looking up from afar, its branches are clearly layered, scattered, and the height is 48 meters, and it is impossible to see its whole picture at a glance. Another ginkgo tree, Wuzhong 84, is about 22 meters high, and with the behemoth against the backdrop, it appears relatively small, the trunk may have been damaged, slightly hollow, but its vitality has not diminished at all, and its yellow and clear leaves are dotted with branches, dancing lightly in the wind.
Ginkgo branches with ginkgo nuts hanging from them.
A slightly hollow trunk.
According to the existing historical materials, Wu Shiya, a scribe from Dongshan in the Qing Dynasty, built a "Green Garden" in his hometown of Wuxiang Village, and two ginkgo trees in the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty were preserved in the garden. Time has passed, and the "Green Garden" has disappeared, only the ginkgo biloba is leaning on each other, as if eager to tell us this dusty history.
Next to Dongshan Temple, Huwan Village - No. Wuzhong 184
The ginkgo tree in the Dongshan Temple and the adjacent dwellings.
Walk through Ginkgo Road to the east end of Renmin Street, you can see the Ming and Huang courtyard walls of Dongshan Temple, and the ginkgo number Wuzhong 184 is in the dwelling next to the temple, and the age of the tree is about 400 years. When we stopped to watch, we happened to meet the resident's grandfather, and after obtaining his consent, the group walked into the courtyard and had close contact with Gumu. Looking up from the corner of the courtyard, the main trunk of the ginkgo seems to have been damaged and partially missing, but the branches are stretched and the height exceeds the second-floor balcony, and the growth is gratifying. It is surrounded by beautiful leaves, covering the courtyard with a golden carpet.
Look up at the mottled and rugged tree trunks.
Ancient ginkgo biloba in the courtyard.
Unlike our appreciation and admiration, Grandpa's attitude is more ordinary, he and Ginkgo biloba day and night, the trees have been integrated into daily life, becoming a part of the family, which may be the reason why Grandpa did not sign the trees. After looking at the tree, we thanked and left, and Grandpa waved his hand and rode away on a four-wheeled bike. The 400-year-old ginkgo stands silently, as if to see us off.
Guandi Temple, Baisha Village - No. Wuzhong
Guandi Temple and ancient ginkgo biloba contrast with each other.
When you come to Baisha Village, Luxiang, it is not difficult to find a quaint Guandi Temple and the ginkgo tree behind it. Perhaps it is because the golden fallen leaves in one place are too gorgeous, attracting many tourists to stop and watch and take pictures. The Guandi Temple looks like it has been around for some years, and I don't know if it's still open to the public. Luckily, you can climb the steps next to the temple to get up close and personal with this ginkgo tree. It is numbered Wuzhong 166 and is 772 years old, with a tall trunk that extends to all sides, sheltering the temple from the wind and rain. Standing at the top of the stairs to observe the best view, you can just see the golden fallen leaves dotted with the eaves tiles of the temple, the color is bright.
The stone steps next to the Guandi Temple lead directly to the bottom of the tree.
Tree sign in the sun.
Walk about 100 meters deep in the alley behind the Guandi Temple, there are three ginkgo trees, numbered Wuzhong in order, because they are not far apart, they are called "Baisha Village Dangdangshi Ginkgo Group", and the age of the trees is 372 years. Walking through the slightly cluttered groves, we found the traces of these three ginkgo trees in a pomegranate and chestnut tree. Perhaps because the leaves fell early, there are not many ginkgo biloba leaves on its branches, but it still grows towards the sun, and it is full of wild interest. Different from the ginkgo tree in front of the Guandi Temple, the surrounding area of the Dangdangshi ginkgo group is rarely passed, and they bask in the sun and enjoy the long four seasons without being disturbed.
Ginkgo biloba hidden in the trees.
A faintly recognizable tree sign under the vines.
When preparing to leave, there are few people in front of the Guandi Temple, and it seems that a tree and a temple contrast with each other, and the eyes are full of gold. We couldn't help but press the shutter again to record these precious quiet years.
Jige Village - No. Wuzhong 170
If you want to participate in the evaluation of the "most listed ancient trees", then the 712-year-old ginkgo biloba in Jige Village, Baisha Village must be on the list. When we saw it at first sight, we understood its significance to the local villagers, in addition to the number of Wuzhong 170 tag, there are several places on the thick trunk: "pen love and ink fun - Bingxu June Ji six carvings", "for the government do not forget the agricultural work, self-discipline often think about the integrity of the body - Renchen year Ji six carvings", "Millennium Shenmu ginkgo tree, the treasure of the town Jige Village." Bless the descendants of Baoji'an, and the generations will be more prosperous - the sixth moment of the white era in the spring of the first year of the first year". There is also a cursive "longevity" word, which is also engraved for "Bai Ji Liu". It can be seen that after 700 years of wind and rain, the ancient ginkgo has become an auspicious tree that shelters one side, and is respected by the villagers and inherits the blessings from generation to generation. At present, there is a slight crack in the middle of the tree, but it is generally growing well, and it can reach high.
One of the most listed ancient trees".
The slightly cracked trunk is full of the marks of time.
We guessed that the signed "Bai Jiliu" was a personal name, and the uncle surnamed Yan, who happened to pass by, answered our confusion, and the very different answers made everyone laugh: Bai is Baisha Village, Ji is Jige Village, and the sixth is the sixth production team. It turned out that it was Uncle Yan's uncle who engraved the lettering, and he is now over eighty years old. Although we couldn't see the old man, we finally understood the two or three things behind the mystery of "Bai Jiliu", which was worth the trip.
The sixth production team of Jige Village, Baisha Village is engraving.
Yangwan Village - Reserve resource ginkgo group
Yangwan Village in autumn is a romantic place, when the leaves are yellow, whether it is on both sides of the road, or in front of the house and behind the house, there are ginkgo trees, the breeze passes, and the light small fans are sprinkled all over the corners, reflecting the blue bricks and white tiles of every household, which is timeless and picturesque. Therefore, Yangwan Village has become a famous place to enjoy autumn in Dongshan, and there is an endless stream of tourists.
The shadow of a ginkgo tree behind a lumber mill.
We searched in the village, and finally found several ginkgo trees in Zhang Xiang behind the lumber mill, which were clustered in groups, full of life, all of them were reserve resources, and they were not numbered and listed. However, its thick trunk and lush branches make it a great place to enjoy the scenery.
A world full of gold.
A corner of the ginkgo forest in Zhangxiang, Yangwan Village.
Beiwang Village Lingxia - No. Wuzhong 155
Continuing to set off, the destination of this stop is the entrance of Lingxia Village, Beiwang Village, where there is a famous ancient tree - the number Wuzhong 155, the listed tree is 2012 "Ginkgo King". According to the age of the tree, the "Ginkgo King" was born in the Western Han Dynasty. On weekends, tourists come in groups to wander and take photos under the trees.
Ginkgo King "Full picture."
If you look closely, only about a quarter of the ginkgo tree remains, and the missing part was damaged by lightning strikes 100 years ago. It is estimated that if the entire ancient tree is intact, its chest may exceed 7 meters. Although it is a little regrettable, its remaining branches are still growing tenaciously, the body of the tree needs two people to hug, and the roots sprout more than 20 new branches, every autumn, it is still golden and full of fruits, showing its vitality to people.
A thousand-year-old tree sprouts new branches.
There are more than 2,000 years of time hidden in the tree plaque.
Beiwang Village - No. Wuzhong 156
Another 800-year-old ginkgo tree is also hidden in Beiwang Village, and we walked around a few alleys with the mentality of trying it out, looking forward to a golden encounter with a tree. To their surprise, everyone went around and finally found it in the courtyard outside a house. The number of this ginkgo tree is Wuzhong 156, and the age of the tree is about 812 years. It's hard to describe its elegance if you haven't seen it with your own eyes. The light and shadow between the mottled branches are intertwined, and the leaves are golden yellow, and between the pitches, they are all beautiful. How pleasant it would be to set up a deck chair and sit under a tree for a nap.
Ginkgo biloba bathed in the sun.
According to the records, next to this tree, there was a rice line and inn in the Song Dynasty, and there was a dwelling in the Ming Dynasty, named "Ninghetang". Today, ginkgo biloba is still born according to the people's houses. While we were observing the trees, the grandfather, a resident of the house, happened to come home and warmly invited us into the courtyard. After some conversation, we learned that the house was inhabited by my grandfather and grandmother, and this ginkgo tree had grown here since the beginning of the construction of the house.
Ginkgo biloba from a dwelling.
Before leaving, my grandmother beckoned us to eat the local oranges of Dongshan, and the sweet taste was unforgettable.
In front of Liu Gongtang, Husha Village - No. Wuzhong 175
Driving through the narrow and winding path of Husha Village, a 512-year-old ancient ginkgo tree is facing Liu Gongtang, it is the tree once painted by the painter Li Keran, it is upright, the branches are well-proportioned, and the ginkgo biloba leaves hang in clusters on the branches, shining. Occasionally, an aunt passed by and introduced with a smile: "Na, this is a five-hundred-year-old ginkgo, blooming just right!."We nodded yes and recorded the idyllic scene in the camera lens.
The ancient ginkgo tree that was once painted by Li Keran.
Golden ginkgo biloba leaves adorn the branches.
Chawan Village, Yellow Sheep Shed, White Tomb - No. Wuzhong
The last stop is Chawan Village. At the head of the village, we asked a villager's grandfather for directions, and according to the direction he pointed, we were able to find two ginkgo trees numbered Wuzhong, both of which were 412 years old and grew near several houses. Perhaps because the leaves fell early, the ginkgo biloba leaves on the branches are no longer luxuriant. Under the tree, villagers pass by from time to time, and the little yellow dog is playing with the raccoon cat, running around the trunk. In such a lively and warm environment, Ginkgo biloba must not be lonely, right?
Two ginkgo trees outside the homes of Chawan villagers.
While walking, we have collected two boxes of ginkgo biloba leaves, holding the gift of autumn, everyone set foot on the way home, and the journey of finding trees has come to an end temporarily. At this time, it is almost dusk, the sunset is shining, the afterglow is blowing over the mountains and rivers, and every tree is bathed in the skylight, which is particularly moving. Facing the last ray of red glow, we tacitly thought:
If you don't see Dongshan ginkgo, how do you know that the autumn colors are as promised?
Ginkgo biloba collected by volunteers.
Filming and editing: Ban Yuanjun, Xin Xueqi Oral History: Lu Shen Written by: Luan Luan BGM: Sunny Day (guitar and piano version), Dandelion's Promise (violin and piano version).