A Tree,a City

Text by Chen Xi Photos by Zhu Xiyong

The tree seeing off the sun over the city 夕陽下

Seemingly overnight,a tree on the bank of the Yangtze River became an internet fad.

Standing quietly near Tieji Road Wharf on the Wuchang Bund and gazing over the flowing Yangtze River,this Italian poplar has been bathing in the spring breeze and the autumn moon over the years,with a large green lawn behind and a bench on its right.

As there’s no other tree within 50 meters,it has become a landmark in the area,which has stirred up a sensation online.

People have been swarming here to meet it with curiosity.They come on sunny days,sitting quietly on the bench.The silhouetted picture from the back,with the tree,bench,and people in the foreground and bustling skyscrapers across the river and the boats on the surging water,forms a natural and meaningful landscape composition.

People come in heavy rains,sitting on the bench with an umbrella in hand and watching the torrential rains over the tumbling river.Sitting here,one can feel their heart and mind become transparent,wishes and worries heard by the nature around,and pressure and anxiety washed away by the water.

People come after the rain.Sitting there gazing into the distance,breathing deep and relaxing one’s mind,one may let go of every worry and care in the world for a moment.

People come at dusk,holding the hands of their love.After a long and tiring day,they can now relax and enjoy the glowing sunset and poetic tranquility.

People come in their wedding dresses,letting the unique and tranquil landscape witness their most sweet and beautiful moment.

長江邊的一棵樹，火了！

一棵意楊樹，靜靜佇立武昌江灘鐵機路碼頭，觀滾滾長江東逝水，望秋月春風，回首是一大片青草坪，右后方一把長椅與之相守。

以半徑50 米環顧一周再無一株樹，看似孤獨落寞的它，置身此情此景中，就這么自然地擦出了火花，火啦！

于是乎……

晴天，你來了，帶著一份好奇，來瞧瞧網紅樹，嗯，靜坐長椅上，從背后拍照，對岸繁華高樓、滔滔江水、江上行船、一棵樹、長椅和你融為一幅意蘊悠長的自然畫，你的心為之一振……

暴雨，你來了。撐傘坐在長椅上，與它慢慢聊，聊聊心語心愿，與天地對話，紓解心中不快，江濤聽見了，驟雨聽見了……

雨后，你來了。坐在長椅上，凝望著它，放空自己，什么都不想，自由暢快深呼吸，簡簡單單發會兒呆……

黃昏，你來了。疲憊工作一天后，牽著戀人或愛人的手，尋一份詩意的寧靜，沉醉夕陽中……

結婚，你來了。它的那份安寧，獨特的神韻，見證你們拍婚紗照的甜蜜時刻。

就這樣，你仰望陪伴它，它也傾聽、撫慰你的心，并祝福你。

自然而然，游客如潮，幾乎“不斷檔”，這棵樹火了！

“一棵普普通通的樹成為網紅，確實出乎意料。”武昌江灘現場負責人周曉煜感慨，可能是此情此景正好與你的心一拍即合吧。類似風姿的樹在江灘找到了同款，但同一場景同一畫風同一神韻的，確實找不到第二個。

這幅“畫”是人為設計的？“渾然天成。”周曉煜介紹，原址是一個舊廠區，改造成江灘時，它周邊樹木大多有病蟲害或長勢不好，唯保留它這棵獨苗，設計大草坪是供游人扎帳篷，那把長椅是供游客休息，每100 米放置一個，恰巧放在那棵樹右邊，沒想到成“點睛之筆”。

The tree waiting for an upcoming storm 暴雨前

The tree on a cloudy day 多云時

People visit and look up to the tree.The tree listens and soothes people’s hearts,greeting them with blessings.

Surrounded by an endless stream of tourists,the tree went viral online.

“We didn’t expect such an ordinary tree to become an internet celebrity,” said Zhou Xiaoyu,who’s in charge of the management of the Wuchang Bund.Maybe part of the reason is that this scene strikes the secret solitary in people’s hearts.There are some other similar trees on the bund,but none of the others seem to have the elegance and charisma this one has.

People wonder if this tree was deliberately designed.“It’s 100% natural,” Zhou Xiaoyu explained.Its location used to be an old factory site before it was transformed into part of the bund.Most of the trees were removed due to pest-related diseases or maldevelopment—except for this one.The large lawn was there for tourists to put up tents and one bench was placed every 100 meters along the bund.This particular bench ended on the right side of the tree and unexpectedly became the “finishing touch” of the scene.

“It’s quiet now.On sunny days it gets too crowded,” commented a tourist the day before yesterday while taking pictures after the rain.According to him,this tree is attractive because of the tranquility,simplicity,and nature it passes to modern urban people.

Perhaps even the prosperous skyscrapers on the other side of the river cast an envious eye upon this poplar tree standing there in peace.

Leading a fast-paced life in a noisy metropolis,we can’t help feeling blessed that there is such a beautiful tree tucked away,where everyone can calm down and enjoy the stillness.

What excitement will the upcoming summer days bring for the tree? What would the tree look like against the crimson clouds in a resplendent sunset? We’ll have to wait for you to unveil the answer when you visit.(Translation:Lu Qiongyao)

The tree bathing in the sunlight 晴天里

The tree bathing in the rain 小雨中

“這個時候拍，是最安靜的時候，出太陽就不得了了。”前日陰雨間歇，一位游客拍照時說的這句話，道出這棵樹紅火的原因——對寧靜、樸素和自然，大家有著極大的渴盼與追求。

這棵意楊，靜守一份純粹，對岸繁華的高樓或也投來羨慕的目光。

喧鬧的城市，快節奏的生活，能有一個角落，有一棵直抵人心的樹，供你獨自凝思、清靜片刻，實為小確幸。

夏天來了，火燒云與這棵樹會碰撞出怎樣的精彩，等你來揭曉。