Tradition and tech team up to preserve 'orchard in the sky'
Ming Dynasty pear trees still thriving in Gansu along the banks of the Yellow River
Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.
High above the terraces of the Yellow River in Northwest China's Gansu province, centuries-old pear branches weave together across elevated wooden scaffolding, casting a dense green roof over the basin below. These structures in Gaolan county are known locally as gaojia yunpeng — the "high-frame cloud canopy" — and create the illusion of an orchard floating in the sky.
A closer look at one of these massive, twisted trunks reveals more than ancient bark. Attached to the wood is a weather-resistant QR code.
A quick smartphone scan brings up a complete digital file showing the tree's age — approximately 345 years — health status, variety and the name of the local family responsible for its care. It is part of a sweeping "one tree, one archive" management system introduced by the Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard Protection Center, bridging Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) farming traditions with modern data tracking.
That blend of deep history and living ecology has earned the site an official designation as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2025. It adds to a list of accolades that includes a Guinness World Record as the "World's First Ancient Pear Orchard".
Yet behind the UN recognition and the spectacular spring blossoms that draw nearly a million tourists each year lies a delicate rescue operation — a race to blend ancient ecological wisdom with modern science before the orchard's aging caretakers retire.
