--- title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ description: Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ canonical: https://time.com/branded-content/china-daily/tradition-and-tech-team-up-to-preserve-orchard-in-the-sky-/ article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-09-01T07:23:26.004Z article:modified_time: 2026-09-01T07:23:00.256Z article:section: Paid Partner Content og:title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ og:description: Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ og:url: https://time.com/branded-content/china-daily/tradition-and-tech-team-up-to-preserve-orchard-in-the-sky-/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltce251141f5ff7030/6a967c768210d8b45e4764e7/5._Tradition_and_tech_team_up_to_preserve_%E2%80%98orchard_in_the_sky%E2%80%99.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1575 og:image:height: 886 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ twitter:description: Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’ twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltce251141f5ff7030/6a967c768210d8b45e4764e7/5._Tradition_and_tech_team_up_to_preserve_%E2%80%98orchard_in_the_sky%E2%80%99.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Tradition and tech team up to preserve ‘orchard in the sky’  _Wei Zhouyu, a local farmer, uses a timber support stand to carry out artificial pollination in the Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard in Gaolan, Gansu province, on April 14\. YANG MINGZE / CHINA DAILY_ By MA JINGNA and HU YUMENG 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 U.N. 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. The story of Shichuan began nearly five centuries ago during the Ming Dynasty, when farmers first recognized the unique microclimate of this Gansu basin. “Shichuan is located in a basin with deep and fertile soil, large day-night temperature differences and a long frost-free period,” said Li Xiaoli, a staff member at the Ancient Pear Orchard Protection Center. “These natural conditions are ideal for growing pears.” Over generations, local farmers developed a cultivation system adapted to the area’s unique geography. They planted deep-rooted pear trees on upper terraces to stabilize slopes, stop soil erosion, and conserve water, while cultivating crops on lower levels. To maximize space and sunlight in the semi-arid environment, farmers developed the elevated canopy system. Supported by wooden frames, mature branches spread high above the ground, improving airflow, cutting disease risks, and creating space below for livestock, vegetables and medicinal herbs. Today, the site shelters 9,423 pear trees that are over a century old, including more than 2,600 that have survived for over 300 years. In its assessment, the FAO noted that this integrated agroforestry landscape creates a resilient ecological barrier along the Yellow River, improving nutrient cycling, strengthening local food security, and demonstrating how traditional knowledge can adapt to harsh environments. Keeping 300-year-old trees alive requires constant intervention, but orchard managers are increasingly swapping chemical inputs for ecological solutions. At a nursery near the orchard, rows of wild pear saplings are carefully cultivated for conservation work. According to orchard caretaker Wei Wanyi, these naturally occurring seedlings possess strong root systems and strong resistance to drought, disease and saline-alkaline conditions. “We use them for bridge grafting, trunk grafting and replanting endangered ancient trees,” Wei said. Traditional restoration methods continue to play an important role in extending the lifespan of aging trees. Grafting, bridge grafting and cavity repair techniques are used to revive weakened specimens and improve their health. At the same time, conservation efforts increasingly rely on environmentally friendly pest-control strategies. Instead of depending heavily on chemical pesticides, orchard managers use a combination of physical and biological methods to manage major orchard pests. Yellow adhesive bands wrapped around tree trunks trap crawling insects before they reach the canopy. The practice evolved from a traditional local technique in which farmers piled sand around tree trunks to prevent pests from climbing upward. Pheromone traps suspended among the branches provide another layer of protection, while beneficial insects are released to help maintain a natural balance between pest and predator populations, Li said. Wei Zhouyu, a local farmer whose family has planted pear trees for generations, pointed to several triangular traps hanging among the branches, part of the orchard’s biological pest-control system. Such tools have become a common sight in recent years as the orchard expands the use of green management practices. While traditional knowledge remains central to orchard management, modern technology has become an increasingly important tool. Since the establishment of the Ancient Pear Orchard Protection Center in 2014, every tree has its own digital identity. The digital records also document each tree’s health condition and maintenance history, allowing conservation teams to monitor changes over time and respond more quickly to emerging risks. Today, more than 1,760 conservation agreements are signed annually with farmers and agritourism operators, ensuring that local communities remain directly involved in protecting the orchard. 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