Witnesses to Time: The Magnificent Trees of Beijing

2008/06/01 13:00:00 US/Central
text by Li Qin

“This book is not a guide to all the fine trees of the city, nor is it in anyway a serious study of flora, nor is it designed to help identify plant species,” writes the author in the preface of the book. “Rather, this is a celebration of those trees that have a link with history, that have stories to tell. Trees marked for special investigation were either particularly aged, associated with an ancient site, had a local legend, were connected with some episode or related to a famous personage.”

The author believes the book is much more than an excellent photo collection of magnificent trees in Beijing. The main focus of the book is not the scientific value of old trees, but rather the historical feature of the sites where these trees are planted. None of the trees in the book grew wild by themselves; instead they were planted in old parks, temples, cemeteries, along streets, or in the villages. The old buildings around these trees may have long ago disappeared, but trees are left as historical marks to tell the past stories.

The author, Virginia S. Anami, used to live and work in Beijing for many years. From 1983 to 2006, she travelled a lot in Beijing and its suburban areas, to take pictures of and document stories about these giant trees. In the book, she tells some nice stories of her many tree-hunting trips. Sometimes she is excited to find a 400-year-old walnut tree that still grows walnuts. Sometimes she wonders how to spot a particular old pine tree in a pine forest, and sometimes she tries real hard to persuade the gatekeepers to let her take a look.

According to the book, there are almost 7,000 trees in Beijing that are more than 300 years old. “To hunt out and visit the well-known and remarkable trees of Beijing is actually a journey of discovery, not just around the capital city, but a trip through the ages. These majestic trees scattered around the city and its environs, make a map of Beijing's past. They serve as markers to recall events, famous people, and local lore. Like old wise men confident of their knowledge over the years, these trees have reticently watched the unfolding of time.”

Witnesses to Time:

The Magnificent Trees of Beijing

（《树之声：北京的名树古木》）

By Virginia S. Anami（阿南史代）



	Article featured in Beijing This Month, June 2008 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism