The 310-year-old gleditsia sinensis, along with its distinctive platform at OVC, has become a new landmark of the area. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

A gleditsia sinensis (a type of tree unique to China) that is over three centuries old in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) has been well-preserved by the local government and recently went viral online.

A Wuhan resident revealed on the city's message board that one ancient tree on Huashan Street was being destroyed for land work carried out by a real estate developer in December last year. The OVC government has since identified the ancient tree as having lived for 310 years and deserving of second-class municipal protection.

The aforementioned real estate developer has been instructed to establish a six-meter-high platform to preserve the tree. The white platform, designed by a top Guangdong design company and featuring a simple and unsophisticated design, is connected to the sales office and has become a new landmark of the street.

The tree was saved from destruction and has grown new leaves after months of maintenance work.

The white platform allows people to stand or sit around the ancient tree. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]