Thousand-Year-Old Couple Tree Introduction
The couple trees are banyan trees that stand tall on a hillside, one in front of the other. The "Wife Tree" is located lower down, has softer branches, and its leaves are fat and oval-shaped, bearing fruit; the "Husband Tree," positioned higher, has harder branches and narrower, longer leaves that do not bear fruit. The age of the Wife Tree is about 500 years, while local people estimate the age of the Husband Tree to be around 1500 years. Originally embracing, the couple trees were separated during a typhoon when lightning struck the Husband Tree, causing its arm to break off, effectively tearing them apart. The Husband Tree used to reach out with this branch to embrace the Wife Tree, but with the arm severed, the sight of their deep affection is now lost. After centuries of existence, the couple trees have been designated as precious trees under the management of Taitung County and were even selected as one of the top ten beautiful landscapes in the eastern Taiwan region during a contest held at the Taitung County Cultural Center. After enjoying a bowl of pigeon ice cream, visitors can take a stroll along the trail around the couple trees, and if time permits, they can also enjoy the fun of pottery-making at the nearby Dongjiu Kiln.
