The ancient Taxus chinensis. (photo: Yangcheng Evening News)
More than 1,500 ancient Taxus chinensis that are more than 100 years old were found in the deep forests of Dongdi Village, Lanhe Town, Nanxiong City in northern Guangdong Province on Nov. 4. Surprisingly, these world's rare endangered plants growing in the forest at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level bore red fruits.
Guided by local villagers, reporters went to the remote Dongdi Village and visited a Taxus chinensis that was about 500 years old. The tree is about one meter in diameter and requires two fully-grown men to hold it. The crown of the tree is green and towering, and some smaller Taxus chinensis as thick as a bowl surround it. In the autumn sunshine, and with the fruit nestled between the green branches, it gives people the feeling of being surrounded by thick foliage embellished with red fruits.
According to local villagers, the wild Taxus chinensis there are not known to people due to its remote location. It is roughly estimated that there are at least 1,500 Taxus chinensis aged more than 100 years growing around the village and deep in the forest, while smaller Taxus chinensis can be seen everywhere.
Villagers take care of these plants very well. They have even established a special Taxus chinensis cooperation organization to protect them and operate them as an industry. The local government also helps villagers formulate development plans and actively reports to Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province to become a professional "Taxus chinensis growing town."
