Rare dove trees flourish on Wawu Mountain

In the habitat best known for being the home of giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys and red pandas, another treasure thrives — the dove tree.   

The dove tree is a wild plant species unique to China. They became a highly popular ornamental plant in the West after being discovered in Sichuan province by a French naturalist in 1869. The dove tree is known as a "living fossil" among plants, as its ancestors date back as much as 60 million years ago.

At Wawu Mountain National Forest Park in Hongya county, Meishan, Sichuan province, there are 20,000 hectares of dove trees — the largest area for their distribution in China.

The flowers of these trees look remarkably like white doves, hence they are also seen as a symbol of peace. Join China Daily to explore the dove trees of Wawu Mountain.