According to China's second national census of ancient and famous trees, the majority of ancient trees in the country are between 100 and 299 years old, totaling 987,500 trees. There are also 160,300 trees aged between 300 and 499 years, and 68,200 trees that are 500 years old or more. Among these, 10,745 trees are over 1,000 years old, and 5 trees are more than 5,000 years old.All five trees over 5-millennium old are located in Shaanxi Province:

Cypress Tree planted by the Yellow Emperor & Bao Sheng Cypress

Location: Emperor Huang Mausoleum, Huangling County, Yan'an City

Laojun Cypress

Location: more than 20 kilometers from Huangling County, Yan'an City

Cypress Tree planted by Cang Jie

Location: Cangjie Temple in Baishui County, Weinan City

Yeshan Great Cypress

Location: Yeshan Mountain in Luonan County, Shangluo City

Cypress Tree planted by the Yellow Emperor

Pic from Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

The tree is the oldest arborvitae in the ancient cypress group. It is said that it was planted by the Yellow Emperor, and even seven people around the trunk could not hug each other hand in hand. The tree is over 20 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 11 meters and a crown area of over 190 square meters. 

Bao Sheng Cypress

Pic from Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

The tree is located in the Xuanyuan Hall within the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor. It stands 15.5 meters tall, with an average crown spread of 12.1 meters. The crown leans to the south, and the tree grows vigorously, with the main trunk inclined at a 16-degree angle to the southwest. Named after the former site of Baosheng Palace, this tree is the only remaining "survivor" and "witness" after the fire that destroyed Baosheng Palace during the Ming Dynasty.

Laojun Cypress

Pic from Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

The Laojun Cypress is located approximately 20 kilometers from Huangling County. This impressive tree stands 18.5 meters tall and has a diameter of 3.5 meters. In 110 BC, Han Emperor Wudi returned from a northern expedition to Shuofang. Hearing about the "Laojun Temple" situated along the banks of the Hulu River, an ancient trade route, he planted this tree in the temple as a symbol of his aspirations.

Cypress Tree planted by Cang Jie

Pic from Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

Northeast of the Cang Jie Tomb in Baishui County, Weinan City, stands a thriving tree that is 5,000 years old. It reaches a height of over 16 meters, with a trunk circumference of 7.8 meters and a root circumference of 9.9 meters. According to legend, when Cang Jie, the creator of the original hieroglyphics, chose a site for his cemetery before his death, he planted this cypress tree as a marker.

Yeshan Great Cypress

Pic from Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

At the base of Yeshan Mountain, located on the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains, stands an ancient cypress tree known as the "Cypress King". This remarkable tree is over 5,000 years old, reaching a height of 23.16 meters, with an average crown spread of 25.7 meters. It is the largest known ancient Sabina chinensis in the Qinling Mountains.

This spring, visit these ancient beings, and experience their vibrancy and resilience.