Giant Tree of Alishan Introduction
The Alishan Sacred Tree is a unique red cypress that is embraced by two trees and is over 3,000 years old. It held the title of the oldest and the widest tree in Asia. Located next to the 69 km mark of the Alishan Railway, it is one of the five great wonders of Alishan, alongside the sunrise, sea of clouds, high mountain railway, and cherry blossoms. In 1906, Japanese engineer Fujii Ogasawara discovered the Alishan giant tree group, with an average age of around two to three thousand years. However, due to plans to construct a forest railway through the area, about 300,000 cypress trees were largely cut down. The old red cypress that was left behind had its heart completely consumed by lotus root fungus, which ironically protected it from being cut down for being "useless," and it was even revered as a deity. The lone sacred tree was struck by lightning in the 42nd year of the Republic of China, causing a fire to burn along its hollow trunk down to the ground, yet it managed to cling to life. However, after a second lightning strike in the 45th year of the Republic of China, its upper branches were completely severed, leading to its demise. In July of the 86th year of the Republic of China, the entire sacred tree collapsed under the pressure of wind and rain, breaking into four large pieces, and crushing a part of the Alishan Forest Railway. As a result, the Forestry Bureau decided on June 6 of the following year to lay the sacred tree down artificially, allowing visitors to admire and mourn this towering giant. To welcome 2007 and highlight Taiwan's resilient spirit, a selection event for a second-generation sacred tree at Alishan was held. The tree originally named "Guangwu Cypress" was chosen through a voting activity organized by the Chiayi County Government, the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration, and the Chiayi Forest District Office. It received a total of 13,846 votes, is over 2,300 years old, stands 45 meters tall, with a diameter of 3.92 meters and a circumference of 12.5 meters, making it quite massive and majestic. It was thus selected as the second-generation sacred tree and was renamed "Alishan Xianglin Sacred Tree" on January 1, 2007.