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A thousand-year-old ginkgo tree at the Qixiaying Ginkgo Cultural Park in Zhapu town, Pinghu, a county-level city of Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

Two parks in Jiaxing, namely Qixiaying Ginkgo Cultural Park in Pinghu and Huoju Community Ginkgo Cultural Park in Haining, were recently recognized as Zhejiang provincial ancient tree cultural parks by the Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau.

The Qixiaying Ginkgo Cultural Park in Zhapu town, Pinghu, a county-level city of Jiaxing, boasts a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree. Planted during the waning years of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), this remarkable tree has stood for 1,143 years, making it one of the oldest trees in the urban area of Zhapu.

Established in 2018, the park spans 24 mu (1.6 hectares), with an investment of around 1 million yuan ($139,513). Centered around the ancient ginkgo, the park also features newly planted ginkgo, camphor, osmanthus, and magnolia trees, along with newly built relief walls, activity squares, pavilions, and public parking facilities.

The Huoju Community Ginkgo Cultural Park in Haining, a county-level city of Jiaxing, derives its name from two hundred-year-old ginkgo trees. It houses historical relics, ancient trees, and ancient stone bridges, preserving and displaying Liangzhu civilization and agricultural culture.