Three Generation Tree Introduction
The famous Three-Generation Tree in Alishan is located along the forest trails of the Alishan National Scenic Area. It refers to a remarkable sight formed by an ancient tree with three generations coexisting. The first generation, an old Chamaecyparis obtusa, withstood 1,500 years of growth before it died, its trunk lying horizontally on the ground. After 250 years, as moss covered the surface of the trunk, it created a moisture-retaining surface, and the exposed sky above provided ample sunlight for the saplings of the second generation to survive, using the dead tree as nutrients for growth. After another 300 years, the second-generation tree underwent a long evolution of life and decay, gradually developing hollow roots, giving rise to new shoots that are seen today as the third generation. This phenomenon of grandparents, parents, and children coexisting is not uncommon in Taiwan's Catawba forests. However, the towering third-generation Chamaecyparis obtusa in Alishan, with its lush branches and intricately intertwined roots, fortuitously takes on a beautiful heart shape, becoming a favored photo spot for couples in the country (it has now suffered from natural weathering and breakage) and an ideal setting for wedding photographs. Additionally, the Three-Generation Tree is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Alishan, with a trail from the Alishan work station to the Three-Generation Tree even nicknamed "Sakura Tree Road." Visitors to Alishan should consider going to appreciate the wonder of this ancient tree, and perhaps in a few hundred or thousand years, there will also be fourth, fifth, or sixth generation trees flourishing in the future.
