He was missing the three ancient trees over which he had kept watch throughout his life around his home in the mountainous village of Yangjialing in Taishun County, East China's Zhejiang Province.

Last December, he was asked to go down the mountain and celebrate his 80th birthday with his son's family.

He has been worried about the trees since he came down.

Born in Yangjialing in 1923, Ji hardly expected that his life would be closely tied with the three cryptomeria evergreens that were planted around the village during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

The three trees are about 15 meters in height and 2.5 meters in circumference at the base. It took four people with outstretched arms to encircle the largest, which the locals called the "king of the trees."

"People believe these ancient trees have magic power," Ji said. "Locals and admirers from neighboring areas often come to burn joss sticks before the trees to pray for a good life."

Ji was worried that the burning incense might be a threat to the trees.

He has spared no effort in keeping a close watch over the ancient trees over the past few decades to protect them from harm.

In the 1970s, the village planned to sell the trees for 600 yuan (now US$72) each. Ji tried to stop the plan and his enthusiasm finally won the support of over 200 villagers.

Village head Xing Dali said he still remembers the day when Ji saved the trees. "When he came and saw someone was holding an axe to cut down the trees, he suddenly threw himself on the tree trunk to stop it," Xing recalled.

In the 1990s, three merchants from East China's Fujian Province made a deal with the village. They said they would take away the trees and, in return, invest in building a road to improve traffic conditions in the village.

Due to Ji's efforts, the deal finally fell through.

Over the past decade, the villagers moved down the mountain, with Ji being the only resident in the village since 1996.

However, he did not feel lonely. "All I want to do is stay with the trees," said Ji. "No one will cut down these trees as long as I live."

Ji was pleased to find out recently that the local government listed the trees under the category of ancient heritage, putting them under State protection.

(China Daily May 16, 2003)