An ancient tree, measuring one metre in diameter and standing 20 metres tall, was recently unearthed from the bed of the Chaobai River in Huairou County, reports Beijing Youth Daily.

Villagers found the ancient tree, still green and with ice on its bark, as they were scooping sand from the river bed. The enormous tree weighed more than 20 tons and was buried 15 metres deep beneath the bed.

Experts with the forestry department are having difficulty identifying the tree's species. But they do know it is at least 700 years old.

An aged villager recalled a heavy flood in the area in 1939 when many large trees floated down from the upper reaches of the river.

He reckoned that the big tree had been buried under the river bed at that time.

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