A PKU team's trek to locate Asia's tallest tree

The record of the tallest tree in the Chinese mainland has been refreshed several times in the past year or so.

Last year in April, a research team led by Peking University found a 76.8-meter tree in Medog County in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, marking China's tallest tree at the time. The record was broken a month later when an 83.4-meter tree was found in Zayu County, which was updated from an initial measurement of 83.2 meters. This year in May, the record has been refreshed again, as the giant cypress measuring 102.3 meters was discovered in Bome County in Tibet Autonomous Region. This new discovery even refreshed the Asian record for the tallest tree.

All these tall trees share a common feature. They were all discovered within Nyingchi City, specifically in Medog County, Zayu County, and Bome County.

Wang Zi, a doctoral candidate at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also a member of the scientific expedition team finding the 83.4-meter tree, mentioned that the ecological protection efforts and the environmental diversity in Nyingchi are necessary conditions for the large number of tall trees.

An expedition professional prepares to climb the giant cypress measuring 102.3 meters at the national nature reserve of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Bome County, Nyingchi City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 15, 2023

This story originally appeared in Xinhua News with the headline "Discovery of giant cypress in SW China refreshes Asian record of tallest tree."

Source: Xinhua News Agency