Protection of ancient trees an act of pride for ranger

The Cuiyun Corridor is a tree-lined transport route that was built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) for travelers and traders.

In 2009, to protect the ancient cypresses along the road, the highway was shifted more than 300 meters outside what is now the Cuiyun Corridor scenic area.

"I come here every day and feel uneasy if I miss a day," Shi said.

He is responsible for caring for and protecting 67 ancient trees in the Jiange section of the corridor. Wildfires, pests and flooding are the three main threats to the ancient trees, according to the ranger.

In addition to clearing dead branches and trash during his routine patrols, Shi and other forest rangers look out for different threats at different times of the year. In autumn and winter, they focus on preventing fires. In spring, they focus on preventing diseases and pests, and in summer, they focus on mitigating the impact of heavy rain and flooding.

"If there is extreme weather such as heavy winds and rain, I come at least twice a day to ensure that the trees in low-lying areas are not adversely affected," he said, pointing to a pair of ancient trees. "You can see that the branches of the tree on the right are relatively dry, and the color of the leaves is slightly pale, indicating that the tree has died."

Shi explained that two years ago, a heavy rainstorm hit the area and swamped the two ancient trees. "Even though we dug drainage ditches and quickly drained the water, we only managed to save one of them."

Despite years passing, the death of the tree still weighs heavy on Shi.