For over 300 years, visitors to the Dai Temple at the foot of Taishan Mountain in Shandong province have been able to find natural respite under the canopy of the great ginkgo tree in the temple courtyard.

Despite its age, the lofty 20-meter-tall tree still remains lush and vibrant, thanks in part to some major tree surgery performed just over a decade ago.

The aftermath of the surgery can still be observed today, with a dozen younger root systems grafted to the base of its trunk. These young roots, each originally a separate sapling, seamlessly integrate with the main trunk before plunging into the soil to nourish their elder.

This root-grafting technique, where juvenile root systems are surgically connected to ancient ginkgo trees, is part of efforts by technicians at the Taishan Mountain Scenic Area Administrative Committee to protect the area's many ancient trees.