|
Traditionally, the azalea is one of the ten most
famous flowers in China. This beautiful flower can be found
throughout the county. Of more than 800 varieties of azaleas, over
600 kinds have been found in China, which is the original
birthplace of azaleas. Azaleas grow compactly in Yunnan, for more
than 300 species have been found in this province. Usually, the
azalea is a shrub or small arbor of one or two meters tall.
However, in the Gaoligong Mountains of Tengchong, the azalea has a
height of several dozens of zhang (about 3 meters), and produces
countless blooms. Therefore, it is called "the Giant Azalea". In
February of 1981, in the virgin forest of the Gaoligong Mountains
in Tengchong, Chinese scientists found a group of the tallest and
biggest azaleas. The biggest one, with a height of 25 meters and a
diameter of 3.07 meters at its foot, is over 500 years old, known
as "the King of the Azalea in the World". "The Giant Azalea" is
now under national protection.
|
