Society

The fascinating centuries-old hollow banyan tree in Nghe An.

Annam • August 3, 2024 20:30

The banyan tree in Lang Hoa village, Phong Thinh commune (Thanh Chuong district), is an ancient tree hundreds of years old, possessing a unique beauty, but it is little known to the public.

bna_1(1).jpg — The towering banyan tree of Lang Hoa village stands majestically in Phong Thinh commune. Traveling along National Highway 46C, the ancient tree can be seen reaching towards the sun from afar. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_2(3).jpg — Local elders say the banyan tree in Lang Hoa village is several hundred years old. Previously, next to the tree was a temple dedicated to the gods Cao Son and Cao Cac, so the villagers commonly called it the Temple Banyan Tree. The temple was demolished during the war to make way for a cooperative warehouse, then a village cultural center... but the banyan tree has remained to this day. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_3..jpg — The tree trunk is tens of meters tall. The circumference of the base is over 12 meters. A young man walking around the base counted 25 steps. Currently, the banyan tree is located in the gardens of several households, on uneven terrain. The lower part of the base, the trunk and roots of the tree, are significantly damaged. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_4(3).jpg — The base of the plant is higher up in the ground, with its roots growing vigorously, protruding high and extending far. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_5(2).jpg — What's remarkable is that this large banyan tree has a hollow center, extending from the ground up to a height of about 4 meters. The trunk has many large and small holes, some large enough for a person to climb inside. Photo: Huy Thư

bna_6..jpg — Under the banyan tree, the hollow area is about 1.5 meters wide.²The tree, containing many rocks and soil, has several openings to the outside. It is known that in the past, people in Hoa village often sat under the banyan tree near the temple to relax and enjoy the cool breeze, and children would often crawl under the tree to play hide-and-seek. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_7..jpg — In the past, the banyan tree at the temple was the center of the village, with many paths leading to its base. Nowadays, there are no paths directly to the tree; to visit the ancient tree, tourists must ask permission from the surrounding residents to pass through their gardens. (In the photo: Standing at the base of the banyan tree, looking up at the trunk. Photo: Huy Thư)

bna_7(2).jpg — The banyan tree has many knots and bumps on its trunk, and locals often climb it, from where they can look inside. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_8(2).jpg — Mr. Vo Van Chu (72 years old), who lives near the banyan tree, said: "Previously, there were three banyan trees in this temple area; two smaller ones have died. When building the pedestrian bridge, local people cut some large branches from the temple's banyan tree to use as part of the bridge." (Photo: Huy Thu)

bna_9(2).jpg — Despite its hollow trunk, the banyan tree at the temple still thrives, casting a lush shade over a corner of Hoa Village on the banks of the Giang River. Some branches extend close to people's houses, and residents trim them to prevent damage to their tiled roofs from storms. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_10(2).jpg — The centuries-old banyan tree has witnessed countless changes in Phong Thinh village and is etched in the memories of many generations of Hoa Village residents. Over time, with pride in this heritage tree, the people living around it have become more conscious of protecting the ancient tree. The involvement of the local government and the collective efforts of the people will play a crucial role in preserving and conserving this precious tree. Photo: Huy Thu

A centuries-old banyan tree with a hollow trunk. Video: Huy Thu

The fascinating centuries-old hollow banyan tree in Nghe An.

banyan tree

Flower Village

ancient trees

hollow

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The fascinating centuries-old hollow banyan tree in Nghe An.

banyan tree

Flower Village

ancient trees

hollow

See more about Society

Read more

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