An exhibition of old and valuable bonsai is under way at Wei Cheng-mei Hall (成美文化園) in Changhua County’s Yongjing Township (永靖).
The 14th Asia Pacific Bonsai and Viewing Stone Convention & Exhibition features a century-old juniper bonsai worth NT$12 million (US$397,483) and a 350-year-old white pine bonsai, the organizing committee said.
Collector Yu Chen-chien (游振乾), who owns the two trees, said the juniper bonsai is the oldest of its kind in Taiwan.
Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei Times
The white pine bonsai is unique because it shows the effects of natural weathering, which are difficult to imitate, he said.
He said he wanted to give Taiwanese a chance to see the two bonsais since this might be the last time Taiwan hosts the exhibition.
A juniper bonsai from the private collection of the late Wang Yung-tsai (王永在), cofounder of Formosa Plastics Group, will also be shown for the first time, the committee said.
Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei Times
All of the bonsais in the show are either more than a century old or worth more than NT$1 million, it said, adding that it had wanted to insure them, but could not because banks disputed the value of trees.
The bonsai exhibition is scheduled to run through Nov. 26; admission is free.
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