Pizhou Random Notes: Metasequoia Tree

Metasequoia trees, at least before arriving in Pizhou, were unheard of. In May 2013, our company undertook the supply of part of the pipe materials for the Huashan Gate construction project in Feng County, Xuzhou City. When the first delivery arrived at the site, I accidentally saw a few outstanding trees in the dense woods next to the gate. They were tall and straight, compact and towering, and I immediately felt good about them. It's a pity that I didn't have time to learn more about it, but I felt so energetic for no reason, which made me straighten my spine subconsciously.

Later, I specifically asked Manager Wei of Jiangsu Huayu Company, the construction unit, but he could not tell the reason. Come and go in a hurry, let it go, after all, these are unimportant things.

In April 2014, due to the start of the Suining tailwater diversion project of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, it officially settled in Tushan Town, Pizhou. When we arrived at Tushan, the sentinel-like trees on both sides of Pisui Road just felt neat and majestic.

The Pizhou Water Construction South-to-North Water Diversion Project Project Department is located at the Tushan Town Water Conservancy Station. When I saw these two familiar big trees in the courtyard, they were lush and green. Although the branches were not thick, they did not lean out to the side. They were united and cohesive. Together, the impressions of the trees at Huashan Gate overlap in front of our eyes.

? Metasequoia. Really get to know Metasequoia at this moment. Please forgive my ignorance. The head of the water conservancy station gave me a brief introduction without being surprised.

? Let’s do some popular science here.

? The Metasequoia tree existed in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era. It was previously considered extinct by the world's botanical community because only fossils were discovered within the botanical community at that time. It was not until the 1940s that a surviving metasequoia plant was discovered in Lichuan, Hubei Province, China. It immediately caused a sensation in the world and was known as a "living fossil" and the "panda" of the plant world. It was soon scientifically developed, cultivated and transplanted to all parts of the world.

The connection between Metasequoia and Pizhou should be thanked to the old county magistrate Li Qingxi. In 1957, when he was the director of the Jiangsu Provincial Forestry Department, he was sent to his hometown of Pi County as the county magistrate. Before leaving, I specially found Professor Zheng from Nanjing Forestry University, who is also a fellow villager, and bought 100 metasequoia saplings for 50 yuan. The unit price of pork that year was only 0.19 yuan/jin. Of these 100 saplings, 99 actually survived. Through careful maintenance, cuttings and transplants, they have developed to this day. Not only has it broken the saying that "metasequoia cannot survive in the Huaihe River", it has also become the city tree of Pizhou, and has become the "high-spirited, tenacious and upright" tree of Pizhou people. spiritual symbol.

? Picang Highway, known as "the best metasequoia road in the world", stretches for 40 kilometers and is famous all over the world. Nowadays, the roads leading from Pizhou City to other cities are basically lined with metasequoia trees, which is a spectacle.

? It suddenly occurred to me that the old county magistrate was later transferred to Fengxian County to serve as county party committee secretary. The metasequoia trees at Huashan Gate should have accompanied him to Fengxian County to take root and grow up at that time.

? Since then, because the project implementation route basically followed the Pisuui Highway, I walked under the metasequoia trees almost every day. It can be said that "a road is covered with green, and two mountains are covered with green."

? I even had the impression that this was not just a tree, but an image of a tall and handsome man with a tall figure and handsome appearance.

? The weather in summer changes at any time. Once, we were constructing a roof gate bridge on Pisui Road. It rained suddenly in a sultry afternoon. We had no way to escape, so we had to take shelter under a metasequoia tree. Fortunately, there was no thunder and lightning. The rain comes quickly and leaves quickly. After a while, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped. We were surprised to find that the dense canopy of trees has actually become a natural barrier, like a big umbrella, protecting us from the wind and rain. Although some rain was unavoidable, it did not hinder the continued construction. Simple affection turned into gratitude.

? Team Song said: The biggest characteristic of the metasequoia tree is that it will never bend down and grow regardless of whether it is covered by a tree or not. We can often see that if some small trees are covered by other large trees, the small trees will turn sideways, looking for gaps, and struggle to grow. But Metasequoia doesn’t do that. It will never lower its noble head or bend its straight waist. Metasequoia will still maintain its tall body, elegant posture, and stubborn growth, pointing upwards boldly, pointing straight to the sky, and will not give in.

As you can imagine, these metasequoia trees planted in the 1970s are now 30-50 cm in diameter and 30-40 meters tall. They are lush and neatly arranged. On both sides of the road, this is so majestic and solemn.

? It is no accident that the metasequoia tree became the city tree of Pizhou. To a greater extent, it is a spirit passed down from generation to generation and a culture of unity and cohesion.

I basically witnessed the spring, summer, autumn and winter of the metasequoia trees in Pizhou, but unfortunately I was not able to leave a complete set of pictures. As can be seen in many videos now.

At this moment, I used this clumsy language to describe the standing metasequoia tree.

In awe.

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