Recently, when reporters visited the World’s Non-ferrous Metals Museum which was just completed in Chenzhou High-tech Industrial Park ( Chenzhou Export-processing Zone), a unique view greatly attracted their eyes- a sinking square followed the shape of an old camphor tree was established there. Its root system was well protected by some stones, though it is the winter season, the old camphor tree is with green leaves.

“This old camphor tree is over 400 years old. It would live better with this ecological square which was established especially for it.” Introduced by Wang Dafa- one of the villagers of Zhujiangqiao village, Bailutang town, Suxian district, “this old camphor tree was a tree listed for protection. All the villagers were worried that it would be moved or cut at the very first beginning of the construction for the World’s Non-ferrous Metals Museum.”

It was really a headache for Li Jianhua- Chief Construction Engineer of Shenzhen Tiehan Ecological Environment Co., Ltd. which contracted to build the museum to decide how to settle the old camphor tree. According to the construction drawings, the museum can only be started for construction after moving the tree.

“The new museum and square need to handle the greening work. We can’t plant trees while cut old trees.” So Li Jianhua negotiated with the principals of Chenzhou High-tech Industrial Park to change the former construction draft. “Though over 8 million yuan was spent on reworking the construction plan and drawing, it is worthy of trying. New solution was on the basis of its existing condition, not only well protect the old tree, but also become a best line of the square of the World’s Non-ferrous Metals Museum.”said Li Jianhua.

It was learned that the protection of this old camphor tree was not the exclusive case happened in Chenzhou city. In current new turn of upgrading of city construction handled in Chenzhou city, “tree-oriented” principal was always followed on the process. Locust group of Sanlitian village, Chenjiang town, Beihu district was named after a one-hundred-year old locust which was on the way of the planning of Minsheng north road, in order not to damage this old tree on construction process, a new plan with more workforces was figured out by local government. Now this old locust is standing on the middle of the road, which becomes harmonious scenery of the road.

Some similar cases were happened on the upgrading of Chenzhou city. In 2014, an upgrading and reconstruction plan was launched for solving the traffic jam problem of Jiangkang road of urban area. The most feasible solution was to cut the camphor trees planted in the sides of the road and extend more vehicle lanes. But after collecting some suggestions from local resident and investigating on site, this solution was vetoed for it was not the good solution to solve the traffic jam by removing all the camphor trees there. A more scientific solution was figured out later without moving any trees there.