In many villages in China’s southern island province of Hainan, venerated ancient trees are becoming pilgrimage sites, welcoming visitors from far and wide to gaze up into their mighty crowns, develop an appreciation for nature, and discover more about Hainan’s history. Now Hainan is working to protect these precious treasures as well as tap into their value to raise local incomes.

Ancient trees bear new fruit

A fifteen meter tall mother durian tree stands in the Global Tropical Fruits Exhibition Center of Baoting’s Qixian Ridge area. This 66-year-old tree is the oldest durian tree in China.

The tall, lush mother durian tree in Qixian Ridge, Baoting. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

In the 1950s, this durian tree was imported to Baoting, Hainan, where it has survived a number of tropical storms and typhoons. It’s not only surviving though, it’s thriving! The tree has become the ‘mother’ of many new durian varieties, passing down her hardy genes to a new generation of durian trees that are beginning to meet China’s growing demand for the pungent fruit.

To better carry out conservation and scientific research, the park has set up a scissor lift next to the mother durian tree. This allows researchers to ascend to conduct artificial pollination. Thanks to their hard work, the tree, which had been barren for years, began to once again bear fruit two years ago. What a sight! In late February, the tree blossomed. The yellow flower clusters hanging from the branches attracted quite a few admirers.

Blossoms of the mother durian tree in Baoting. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

Danzhou’s Dacheng Town is known for the locally grown wampee, a small round fruit with both sweet and sour flavor notes that has become the favorite of many foodies.  

There are about 350 century-old or older wampee trees at Nanji Village in Dacheng Town. One of them, the ‘Hainan Wampee Tree King’, has been growing strong for over 300 years!

 Locals pick wampee in Tuisai Village, Danzhou. (Photo: Hainan Daily) 

Every year in June and July, visitors descend on Nanji to explore the ancient village, see the trees bedecked in yellow fruit, and enjoy local delicacies such as wampee chicken and wampee tea.

Protecting ancient trees

In a 4.27 square kilometer area of Sanya’s Daxiao Dongtian Park, there are around 3,000 Dragon’s Blood Trees (Dracaena draco) with an average age of over 200 years old.

Striking Dragon’s Blood Trees have a grayish-green trunk covered in bark that looks like dragon scales. Even more dramatically, if the trees are injured, they bleed a dark red, blood-like resin, giving the trees their name. Growing slowly, the trees tend not to be as strong as trees of other species, but have long life cycles of up to 8,000 years, giving them another name - Ageless Pines.

The trunk of a Dragon’s Blood Tree. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

In September 2023, these Dragon’s Blood Trees were named one of China’s 100 "most beautiful ancient trees", putting another feather in the cap of Daxiao Dongtian Park.

Visitors gaze in wonder at ancient Dragon’s Blood Trees in Sanya’s Daxiao Dongtian Park. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

Over the past year, there have been even more visitors coming to Daxiao Dongtian Park to view the ancient Dragon's Blood Trees. The park has set up a special gardening and greening department to  take good care of the Dragon's Blood Trees, removing pests and replenishing nutrients. In addition, ornamental shrubs have been planted alongside the ancient trees, and retaining walls have been put in to prevent soil erosion.

Telling the stories of Hainan’s ancient trees

Banyan trees are relatively long-lived species, and their intertwined roots and branches often create unique cultural landscapes.

Nested in Zhangtang Village, Hanlin Town, Ding’an, a single 800 or so year old banyan has sprouted thousands of aerial roots and over 200 trunks that support the tree’s massive bulk. Known as the “King of Asian Banyans”, this massive tree stands like an ancient guardian of generations of locals, who often pray for peace and prosperity under the shade of the mighty banyan king.

In recent years, the ancient tree forms its own forest has attracted many visitors to the village. The town of Hanlin has launched a rural tourism program featuring the ancient banyan tree, while also improving local accommodation facilities and dining & entertaining services to attract more visitors.

Gardeners clean up parasitic ferns growing on an ancient banyan in Longhu Town, Ding’an. (Photo: Hainan Daily)　

By the river at Jianao Village in Huishan Town, Qionghai, there is a 100+ year old banyan tree which is regarded as the “guardian” of the Miao people of the village. Every year during Spring Festival, local people gather under the tree to perform a dragon dance, praying for good weather and an excellent harvest in the new year. The tree helps them in other ways too, bringing more visitors to the town who then try the local Miao cuisine, enjoy Miao songs and dances, and purchase local Miao products.

According to Wang Jiansheng, president of the Hainan Tourism Development Research Association, ancient trees in Hainan’s countryside play multiple roles. First, they provide a common space for relaxation. Second, they are regarded as historical "guardians" by villagers who take the initiative to protect them. Third, they bear witness to the history of the villages and the vicissitudes of local life.

Wang suggested that Hainan should explore study tours and related activities based on the history of these ancient trees and the villages they stand, thus bringing development opportunities to more areas. Meanwhile, local governments should direct residents to protect the trees, and guarantee that locals can also benefit from the development of these study tours.