Tongliang Great Banyan

Tongliang Great Banyan is a weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) planted in 1673, over 350 years old, whose nearly one hundred aerial roots have spread into a canopy covering more than 2,000 square meters — the largest single-tree canopy in Penghu.

The Tongliang Great Banyan is a weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) — not the Bengal fig (Ficus benghalensis) it is sometimes mislabeled as — planted in 1673 (the 27th year of the Yongli reign) and now over 350 years old. Nearly one hundred aerial roots have taken root as prop roots, creating a canopy that covers more than 2,000 square meters, the largest single-tree canopy in Penghu, standing next to the forecourt of Tongliang's Bao'an Temple.

Highlights of Tongliang Great Banyan

The Tongliang Great Banyan is a Bengal fig (Ficus benghalensis). This species continuously sends out aerial roots from its main trunk; once the roots touch the ground they form prop roots, gradually creating a forest-like canopy structure. This particular tree has produced an enormous number of aerial roots, and the prop roots surrounding the main trunk create a space that resembles a grove. It is one of the largest Bengal figs in Taiwan.

The banyan stands adjacent to Bao'an Temple in Tongliang, and the temple forecourt under the enormous canopy forms a distinctive community gathering space. That a banyan has thrived here for over three hundred years in Penghu's strong seasonal winds is remarkable in itself. The space beneath the canopy is spacious and remains a daily gathering spot where villagers come to cool off — a living example of traditional community life.

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Sources: Spot context notes. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.