Today is China's 47th National Tree Planting Day. Did you know that one of the most famous trees in China isn't made of wood – but bronze?
Discovered in 1986 at the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan, this bronze sacred tree dates back to the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) and stands an impressive 3.96 meters tall, making it the arguably largest single bronze artifact ever found in China.
As a masterpiece of the ancient Shu civilization, the tree features a mountain-shaped base, a tall, straight trunk, and fruits and birds perching on its branches, now housed in the Sanxingdui Museum.