Rare 'money tree' growing precariously on a cliff: Bodyguards guard it 24/7, using magnifying glasses to examine the leaves to 'check its health'

Even a small change to the tree will be recorded in a log by the keeper for easy monitoring by experts .

Special health check

On a morning in October 2022, a special "health check" was conducted on the top of Yuping Mountain, Huangshan Mountain, Anhui, China. The subject of the "health check" was a nearly 1,000-year-old ancient tree - the Welcome Pine (Nghinh khach tung) - one of the famous symbols of the Huangshan Scenic Area .

Based on the pre-built scaffolding, the medical staff and plant experts divided into groups of 3-4 people; one person gently lifted the branches and leaves with one hand, while the other hand used a magnifying glass to carefully observe the color of the leaves and the thickness of the new shoots; one person used a ruler to measure the length of the leaves and the length of the new shoots; one person stood next to the tree trunk, gently tapped on the trunk, and then searched for insects and treated parts that could potentially cause disease or damage.

During the process, the experts sometimes took notes, and sometimes quickly took out their cameras to take pictures and save data for further analysis.

" This physical examination is mainly to observe the growth of new shoots, the color of leaves and the thickness of young shoots, and to check the pest and disease situation and the protective safety of the plants ," Professor Shu Qinglong, head of the expert team from Anhui Agricultural University, told the National Business Daily (China).

Famous Chinese welcome notice.

Professor Tu Tieu Nguu, a member of the expert team, revealed: " The pine needles are emerald green, the new fruit is plump, and is currently growing healthily ."

"Private bodyguard" on watch 24/7

Not only does it undergo regular health checks, but since the 1980s, the Huangshan Scenic Area has set up a guard post next to this precious pine tree. Security guards will be on duty to guard it 24/7.

365 days a year, the security guards live in a small room at an altitude of 1,670m above sea level. Every day, they have to repeat a job that is considered extremely boring. They wake up at 6:30 am, every 2 hours they will check the pine tree once, and the evening is no exception.

Even if it is just a very small change in the growth of the pine tree, the keepers cannot ignore or overlook every detail.

After a day of inspection, the staff will record the details of the pine tree's growth in the "Diary of the Welcome Pine Tree". These diaries have now accumulated more than 70 copies.

The image of Thong welcoming guests has been included in Chinese paintings.

National treasure of China

There are many rare pine trees on Mount Huangshan, but the most famous pine tree is the Welcome Pine tree mentioned above.

What makes this pine tree special is that, in addition to being at least 800 years old, its shape is what attracts visitors . All the branches and leaves of this tree stretch in one direction, like a hospitable host opening his arms to welcome guests from afar.

The welcoming pine tree grows precariously on the cliff, is about 9.91m high and 2.05m in circumference, and is the symbol of Huangshan as well as the symbol of Anhui.

For the Chinese people, the welcoming pine is a national treasure, extremely noble. Many families often hang a picture of the welcoming pine in their home, even in the Great Hall of the People of China.

Countless tourists from both inside and outside China have come to Huangshan just to see the Welcome Pine Tree. In the eyes of the locals, the Welcome Pine Tree is not just a pine tree, but also a "money tree".