The White Pagoda Temple

The White Pagoda Temple in Chang'an, originally established during the Western Jin Dynasty, is the ancestral court of the Buddhist Three Stages School. It flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasties, a time when there were numerous monks and majestic temples. Despite a thousand years, many stone pagodas still remain within the temple grounds. Apart from the Buddha Hall, the most important sight is this 1700-year-old ginkgo tree. The 4000-year-old ginkgo tree planted by King Wen of Zhou in Hanzhong Liuba did not claim to be the first in China, nor did the 2600-year-old ginkgo tree at the Laozi preaching Louguantai, and certainly not the 1300-year-old ginkgo tree planted by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty at the ancient Guanyin Zen Temple. However, this 1700-year-old ginkgo is acclaimed as the number one ginkgo tree in China. With a thick trunk, a circumference of 18 meters, and a height of 30 meters, its crown covers an area of over 100 square meters. Therefore, although it is only 1700 years old, it is known as the number one ginkgo tree in China in terms of height and girth. The ginkgo tree in the snow, dressed in silver, appears even taller and more upright, protecting the peace of the land.