1,600-yr-old cedar declared 'King of Trees'

CHANGSHA - A 1,600-year-old cedar in Central China's Hunan has been named King of Trees in the province.

The cedar is located in Dazhai village, Chengbu Miao autonomous county. It is 29 meters tall, with a trunk measuring 2.17 meters in diameter and a crown spanning 27 meters.

A hole in the tree can accommodate eight people standing.

Hunan provincial department of forestry named the tree in a campaign to highlight protection of trees and forests. Nine other trees were also given the honorary title.

Meng Changxiong, Communist Party Secretary of Dazhai village committee, said the tree miraculously survived a big fire several years ago.

"In 2003, one of the villagers lit candles and burned some paper money to honor the tree. A huge fire was caused when wind blew the burning paper onto the tree top. Fire-fighters took four hours to extinguish the flames," he said.

"We thought it was dead, but five months later, new sprouts and leaves began to grow from it. We have put the tree under maximum protection since then. No fire is allowed anywhere near the tree," he said.