The Jiange Cypress in Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn]

The Jiange Cypress, standing at an impressive 29 meters tall and with a history spanning approximately 2,300 years, holds the distinction of being the tallest and oldest cypress in the Cuiyun Corridor, the world's largest manmade cypress forest.

The towering, arrow-straight trunk of the Jiange Cypress presents a majestic silhouette. Its fruit is oval-shaped, akin to a pine cone but smaller and larger than typical cypress fruits, featuring the distinctive cracks characteristic of cypress fruits. This unique blend of pine and cypress traits renders it a rare specimen globally.

The tree was designated by forestry expert Zhao Liangneng as a distinct variety separate from the 154 known species of cypress in 1978. Because it was discovered in Jiange county, Guangyuan, Sichuan province, the tree was given the name "Jiange Cypress".

Despite numerous attempts by experts to propagate offspring from the Jiange Cypress, all efforts have been to date unsuccessful, underscoring its truly singular and enigmatic nature.