Guardians of ancient trees bridge past and future

Tree healer Jin Hongjun, 55, vividly recalls the painstaking efforts to save China's beloved 4,500-year-old "General Cypress" two decades ago.

Located in the Center of Heaven and Earth historical building complex in Dengfeng, Henan province, the country's oldest cypress tree had suffered from improper care and management over the years.

Jin, from the Dengfeng Cultural Relics Bureau, served as General Cypress' dedicated caretaker from 2004 to 2007, and talks about the ancient tree like an old friend.

In 2004, under the guidance of Professor Cong Sheng, a renowned ancient tree conservation expert, Dengfeng authorities launched a comprehensive rescue mission for the ailing cypress. The project, costing hundreds of thousands of yuan, included removal of decaying parts of the tree, sterilization, structural reinforcement, and soil rehabilitation.

"The challenges were immense," Jin said. Centuries of construction debris and buried pedestals of tablets had choked the tree's roots. Workers relocated tons of stone pedestals, removed rubble, replaced soil with nutrient-rich substitutes, and installed drainage and aeration systems — a labor-intensive process requiring meticulous attention.

"Conservation isn't a one-time fix. Trees are living beings, they need sustained attention," Jin said.

The tree's historical significance dates back to 110 BC when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) visited Songshan Mountain on an imperial inspection tour. Impressed by its majestic stature, he bestowed upon the tree the title of "General Cypress".

Centuries later, in 1750, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) created his renowned ink painting Han Dynasty Cypress at Songyang, which fetched over 87 million yuan ($12 million) at an auction in 2010.