116-year-old scented osmanthus tree flourishes in Qidong
The magnificent 116-year-old sweet-scented osmanthus tree in Hehe town, Qidong, is now two stories high. [Photo/WeChat account: wqby0513]
As the cold autumn approaches, the sweet-scented osmanthuses are now in full bloom, bringing delightful, wafting, fragrances to everyone.
In Hehe town, in Qidong – a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – there is a magnificent 116-year-old sweet-scented osmanthus tree, which is the oldest one in the city.
Shen Wengang, 85, is the owner of the tree. Shen said that the two-story high, sweet-scented osmanthus tree was planted by his grandfather in 1905, praying for prosperity and peace.
Shen Wengang, 85, tends the tree with great care in Qidong. [Photo/WeChat account: wqby0513]
Shen's family bought some land and planned to move there that year. Before their move, Shen's grandfather planted two sweet-scented osmanthus trees, one of which drowned in a flood. The other survived and it has continued to endure tenaciously and is flourishing in modern times.
The tree blooms twice a year, bringing delicate sweet scents to the locals. [Photo/WeChat account: wqby0513]