The cutting down of the 'single tree' standing in a wheat field in Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China, by villagers has stirred controversy. Chinese media outlet Daixiang News reported this on the 10th.

【その他の写真】

According to the article, this single tree was called the 'Tree of Solitude,' and due to the rare sight of it standing alone amidst the sprawling wheat fields, it had become a popular photo spot for many people. However, because visiting tourists repeatedly trampled the wheat fields, enraged villagers reportedly cut off the tips of its branches.

The 'Tree of Solitude' became a topic of discussion around mid-May this year. Initially, people visiting to take photos did not cause damage to the wheat fields. However, some tourists left behind garbage, so the village allocated an additional budget for the labor costs of cleaners. Since the tree was growing by the roadside, it was reportedly impossible to collect fees from tourists.

However, as it gained attention through short videos and other means, the number of people visiting to take photos rapidly increased. As a result, a part of the wheat field was trampled so firmly that a 'path' was formed. Villagers managing the wheat fields appealed to the village committee about the damage, but were told, "It's difficult to station someone permanently for surveillance because it's far from the residential area."

The villagers used ropes and cloth bags to set up an enclosure around the wheat field, attempting to prevent tourists from entering. However, when they visited the site again after a while, the enclosure was gone without a trace, and the wheat field had been trampled. Therefore, the villagers reportedly resorted to the drastic measure of cutting down the tree.

The village committee stated that they had no intention of pursuing responsibility from the villagers, saying, "She has already suffered the loss of her wheat field being trampled. We will not pursue this any further. This tree will also grow its branches and leaves again next spring."

However, surprisingly, after its branches were cut, even more tourists came to see the 'Tree of Solitude.' It is said that cigarette butts are sometimes discarded in the vicinity, and there are also concerns about the wheat field catching fire. The village committee is reportedly dispatching personnel to patrol and strengthening vigilance. (Translation and editing/Kitada)