Dubbed the “Eye of the Sun,” this 400-year-old tree has the remarkable ability to predict the weather accurately, delighting the online community.
In Hưởng Thủy Village, Tianzhu County, Chongqing, China, there stands a remarkable ancient tree that not only symbolizes the village but also can predict the weather with an accuracy of up to 90%.
This tree reaches a height of 60 meters and has a diameter of about 3 meters. The trunk is 90% hollow, forming a large cavity that can accommodate more than 10 people. Inside this hollow, one can look up at the sky through a small hole at the top, which the locals refer to as the “Eye of the Sun.”
No one knows exactly how long the tree has existed, as it was already tall and majestic during their childhood.
The village elder, Đường Văn Tự, who is 92 years old, stated that this ancient tree has been a symbol of Hưởng Thủy Village for a very long time. With its lush green canopy, the tree serves as a gathering place for villagers to relax, chat, and drink tea during the summer. However, no one can pinpoint exactly when the tree came into existence, as it was already so grand when they were young.
According to the Tianzhu County Forestry Bureau, determining the age of the tree requires examining its growth rings. However, due to the fact that the tree trunk is hollow, this cannot be done, making it impossible to accurately determine the tree’s age.
The hollow trunk is a result of the tree lacking nutrients as it matured to a certain age. This condition typically occurs in trees that are hundreds of years old. The Forestry Bureau also noted that due to the hollow trunk’s susceptibility to strong winds, the tree has been placed on a protection list.
Besides its large size and longevity, the villagers highly regard this ancient tree for its remarkable ability to predict the weather. According to elder Đường, on sunny days, if one stands in the hollow and sees condensation forming, it indicates that rain may come within two days. Conversely, on rainy days, if the “Eye of the Sun” is visible intermittently, the rain is likely to stop soon.
Elder Đường shared: “The tree’s forecasting ability is accurate up to 90%. Before modern weather forecasts, villagers relied on the tree’s predictions to plan activities such as planting crops.”
Experts from the Tianzhu County Forestry Bureau explain that the tree’s weather prediction ability is based on scientific principles.
- When the weather has been hot for several days, humid air before rain enters the hollow and condenses due to temperature differences.
- When it has been raining for several days and is about to stop, clouds show signs of dissipating and moving quickly across the sky. Standing in the hollow and looking up, one can see the clouds thickening and thinning, which explains the phenomenon of the “Eye of the Sun” appearing intermittently.
With this information, it is evident that the ancient tree in Hưởng Thủy Village is not only a symbol of the village but also a valuable asset that needs to be carefully protected.
