An old tree in southwestern China's Chongqing municipality is said to be able to forecast weather. (Photo/cqwb.com.cn)
(ECNS) -- A large old tree has been used by locals to predict the weather in southwestern China's Chongqing municipality, with a surprisingly high success rate.
The tree, located in a Shizhu county village, is 60 meters tall and has a diameter of three meters at breast height.
Close to the ground, 90 percent of the trunk is hollow, creating a space large enough for more than 10 people to stand inside. The empty space becomes smaller towards the top, forming a hole through which people can see the sky and predict weather changes.
According to a local jingle, if there is mist hanging around the hole on a sunny day, rain can be expected two days later. If clouds can be seen through the hole, lingering rain will stop.
Tang Wenshu, 92, said villagers relied on these predictions to time activities like farming before weather forecasts were readily available, with "the success rate being nine out of 10".
Tang added that the tree is like a celebrity, attracting many visitors, but neither he nor other older people know exactly how old it is. For years, it has been a shelter from the sun, a venue for chats, and a site to drink tea together.
An expert from Shizhu County Meteorological Bureau said there may be some science behind the tree's ability to predict the weather.
He explained that the temperature differs between the inside and outside of the big trunk and that people can witness these potential changes by observing mist or clouds.
