Each April, villagers around Ziwei Township in southwest China's Guizhou Province will gather for a special worship ceremony. The object of their worship is a 1,380-year-old crape myrtle tree. The tree with a height of 34 meters and a girth of 1.9 meters is the tallest and largest crape myrtle species in the world, hailed as the Lord Crape Myrtle.

As a survivor of the Tertiary Period, the tree is considered as a living fossil and is currently under the state protection. If one happens to touch its smooth bark, one will notice the tree tremble. Thus, people often call it the tickle tree.

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast an array of plant species. In this series, CGTN will go on a tour to learn about some of the most iconic flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local climate and topography. 

(Cover photo and video provided by CGTN Nature film crew.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)