Big Banyan Tree

The Big Banyan Tree, located less than four miles (6.4 kilometers) outside the town of Yangshuo, is a large, well-preserved banyan tree said to have been planted during China’s Jin Dynasty. The 55-foot (16.8-meter) tall tree gained notoriety after a famous scene from the Chinese film Third Sister Liu (Liu San Jie) was filmed under its branches. In the film, the protagonist tosses a silk ball to her lover beneath the tree in declaration of her love.

Whether or not you’re familiar with the movie, the Big Banyan Tree is impressive in its own right. The gnarled trunk, measuring over 23 feet (7 meters) around, twisted branches and dense canopy create a sizable shaded area where sunlight rarely gets through.

Big Banyan Tree is a pleasant place to stop for a photo or to watch the domestic tourists act out the infamous love seen in front of flashing cameras on the way to or from Moon Hill, located just to the south.