Jingshan Tang-Dynasty Pagoda Tree (tree embracing its child) (唐槐抱子 / 怀中槐)

The short answer: A legendary ancient Chinese scholar tree (pagoda tree, 国槐) dating to the Tang Dynasty. Its trunk is hollow and rotted, and a younger pagoda tree has grown up inside the hollow and merged with the old tree, forming a rare 'tree embraces its child' (怀中槐 / 唐槐抱子) growth, which appears in the same Jingshan complex as the famous Ming Dynasty 'Guilty Scholar Tree' (罪槐).

At a glance

Where it is: Jingshan Park (景山公园), west of the Guande Hall (观德殿西侧), Xicheng District, Beijing

What it is

A legendary ancient Chinese scholar tree (pagoda tree, 国槐) dating to the Tang Dynasty. Its trunk is hollow and rotted, and a younger pagoda tree has grown up inside the hollow and merged with the old tree, forming a rare 'tree embraces its child' (怀中槐 / 唐槐抱子) growth, which appears in the same Jingshan complex as the famous Ming Dynasty 'Guilty Scholar Tree' (罪槐).

Why it's worth the stop

Over 1,000-year-old Tang Dynasty pagoda tree that still survives
A smaller pagoda tree grows inside its hollow trunk and fuses with it — a one-of-a-kind 'tree embracing child' in Beijing
Located within Jingshan Park on the central axis of Beijing, near Guande Hall
Part of Beijing's collection of treasured ancient scholar trees (国槐)