500-Year-Old ‘Tree Couple’ Guarded by Devoted Elder in Guangdong

In Gaodong Village, Guangdong, nature serves up real-life romance: two intertwined Chinese swamp cypresses, standing tall for nearly 500 years, have captured hearts like a botanical fairy tale. Meet 80-year-old Wen Yanbao, the village’s green guardian who’s spent decades protecting these living treasures.

Known as the ‘Romeo and Juliet of the plant world,’ the trees are the last surviving members of the ancient Glyptostrobus genus – a ‘living fossil’ under China’s top-tier protection. Wen’s daily ritual? Cleaning their pond and keeping watch like a proud parent.

Maoming City, where this ecological drama unfolds, is a biodiversity hotspot backed by Guangdong’s Yunkai Mountains and facing the South China Sea. Its tropical climate makes it a VIP lounge for rare species – and a must-watch on CGTN Nature’s exploration series.

For those craving more wild wonders: Last week’s episode featured flowers ‘protected by tiger’s paws.’ Stay tuned – Mother Nature’s always got a sequel!

Reference(s):

Guangdong Maoming Series Ep. 6: Couple in the water guarded by old man

cgtn.com