While we were visiting ancient temples in Beijing, we came upon some old giant trees. The old trees are living witnesses to the history of the sites, and they left us with an unforgettable impression and a feeling of having gone back more than a thousand years in time. Formerly, fine strains of trees were planted in and around temples to add to the religious atmosphere and the beauty of the surroundings. Thanks to the temples, these old trees have avoided being cut for firewood or other uses.

Some of the old pines and knotted cypresses are landmarks on ancient holy sites. Ginkgoes, Chinese scholar trees, and sala trees were regarded as holy trees in Buddhism and were often planted in pairs along the paths and at the entrances to temples. Even today, the old trees are easily seen, especially in winter, as they stand on mountaintops in the outskirts of Beijing.

The old giant trees used to be worshiped by the people of Beijing. Some of them were granted titles or pet names such as the Emperor's Tree, the King of Ginkgoes, and the Guest-Welcoming Pine by emperors and local people.

These old trees not only remind us of the remote past but also inspire us to preserve them and their temples so our descendants can enjoy them as we do now.

The Twin Sal Trees in front of the nine-story Monk Tongli Pagoda in the Tanzhe Temple, Mentougou District. They are the oldest sal trees in China and are known as holy trees	Madam Kosi Ginn (front), a Japanese historian specializing in East Asian history, has published articles about Buddhism and the history of Beijing. She is the wife of the present Japanese Ambassador to China. Madam Liu Xiaodao (rear), a professional photographer from Germany, has lived in Beijing since 1984. By Liang Zhijun	Playing Chess depicts old customs in the compound houses of Beijing.
The 800-year-old Panlong pine (Pine with Twisted Branches Like a Winding Dragon) standing in the Yanshou Temple, Changping District	Seven cypresses from the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) in Zhongshan Park. The cypresses are still flourishing in the Temple of the Sheji Altar (the Altar of Land and Grain). The temple was built during the Liao and Jin Dynasties and was originally known as the Xingguo Temple. The name was changed during the Ming Dynasty	The Two Dragon Cypresses in the Temple of the Black-and-White Dragon in the village of Xiaweidian. The giant trees are two cypresses joined together, and they have a history of 800 years, predating the temple, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).