Thehand-planted cypressplated by the Yellow Emperorhas beenflourishingfor over 5,000 years, with lush branches and dense shade (Photo byLi Xiaojun, correspondent)
In early winter, on Qiaoshan Mountain, ancient cypresses stand tall, presenting a scene of lush greenery. How did the tens of thousands of cypresses come to be on the Loess Plateau? How did the cypress planted by the Yellow Emperor survive for 5,000 years and flourish? How do these millennium-old cypresses rejuvenate in the new era? ... Let’s transcend time and listen to the self-narration of the cypress planted by the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), exploring the ecological practice of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature on the Loess Plateau -- I am the cypress planted by the Yellow Emperor, “contemporary” with the Chinese civilization.
Abundant beautiful legends about me has been passed down. Thousands of years ago, the Yellow Emperor, together with Yan Emperor, won victory over Chi You, and settled in Qiaoshan Mountain after establishing the tribal alliance. As people build houses and made fires, the trees nearby were cut down in one fell swoop, eventually leading to mountain floods. Grieved, the Yellow Emperor took the lead in planting me. Since then, people have begun planting cypresses from generation to generation, making tree planting a fine tradition of the Chinese nation that continues to this day.