Rare pine trees thrive in Jilin

Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the meiren pine (“meiren” means “beauty” in Chinese), is native to the northern slopes of the Changbai Mountain range in Jilin Province. Considered a geographical mutation of Pinus sylvestris, this sky-piercing pine can grow up to 30 meters tall and has an umbrella-shaped crown.

As one of the world’s most endangered and rare tree species, Pinus sylvestris is listed as a second-class protected tree species in China.

Under the protection and care of the local government and forestry workers, the number of these pines has increased from 78,000 when they were first discovered to more than 86,000. Among them, more than 900 trees have reached 100 years of age, with the oldest being nearly 400 years old.