A gingko tree and a sophora tree dating back to the Tang Dynasty are the most prominent of the old trees in Yangzhou due to their 1000 years of history. These reputed living fossils have been able to givr birth to tree seedlings recently.
The 1000-year-old sophora tree is located in Tuoling Lane of Yangzhou. although suffering from trunk defects due to the damages caused by insects, the tree is of great vitality with its branches particularly tenacious, thanks to the protective efforts made by the local authorities over the past years. The tree is also believed to be the legendary source of the famous idiom Nanke’s dream, hence much sought-after by tourists from near and far.
The gingko tree, which is also 1000 years old, is located in the Stone Temple built in the Tang Dynasty to undergo thousands of years of vicissitudes.
Both trees have been unable to give birth to the next generation of seedlings as they are located in the downtown.
3 years ago, the horticulture and gardening authority of Yangzhou City teamed up with the landscaping department of Yangzhou University to make a trial on the implementation of artificial breeding. In the breeding process, the Tang Dynasty ginkgo came to fruition due to the good quality of the seed but the breeding of sophora tree is something of twists and turns.
The gingko seedling and sophora seedling were finally moved out of the laboratory last spring after undergoing two years of laboratory survival. They have been transplanted in the green nursery and are current growing well. They will be transplanted for urban greenery after a trial period in the wilderness.
