The King of Bayan Trees in China &The Mother of Rubber in China

 
The tree grows at Laodao Village of Tongbiguan in Yingjiang County. It is over 400 years old, 40 meters high and covers an area of 5.5 mu. More than 100 new trunks have grown from aerial roots, which touch the ground. The new and old trunks join together, forming a wonderful one-tree forest. Walking under the tree, you will feel as if you were wandering in a virgin forest. It is the biggest banian tree that has ever been found in China. That is why it is called the king of the Banian Trees in China.

Dehong residents have a special affection for banyan and called it big green tree. The Dai people worship these tall, straight and old trees in the village as divine trees. On New Year’s Day or other festivals, the Dais will worship in the shade of these big trees, and pray for good health of both human and livestock, and abundant harvest of all food crops.

Banyan is a feature of Dehong's scenery. These trees, with luxuriant foliage, spreading branches and a great variety of shapes and postures, are scattered in every corner of Dehong Prefecture, adorning local scenery gaily. An old tree in Laodaonong Village, Tongbiguan of Yingjiang County, called “banyan king,” is unique in particular. Its waistline is so huge that dozens of people can’t encircle the tree. The trunk is covered by many nubby roots, which resemble mountain range, canyon, thousands of ravines and surging tides. The winding branches and steep aerial roots forge a tree cave. The cave, like a hall or cloister, is imposing. Its tree crown, like a huge umbrella, blocks the sunlight and casts a huge shadow. The tree penetrating into the sky seems to swallow the whole blue sky and white clouds.

Many boa-like aerial roots, growing in the tree’s branches, get into the earth, seeming to absorb all the moisture. Its roots and branches join together and are integrated into a whole. The tree acreage is grand in scale. When passing by the tree, people seem to travel in the virgin forest and it is enjoyable. According to the meticulous research of experts, the tree crown covers an area of six mu (0.988 acre). There are a total of 164 new trees which grow from the tree’s aerial roots. The nearly 300 years old banyan is one of the biggest trees in China and can be rated “one-tree woods.”