Chinese scientists have found five 800 year old hemlock trees around the scenic city of Guilin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

According to local sources, the trees were found from a cliff of a nature reserve over 1,700 meters above the seal level built along Mount Mao'er inside Guilin and have a diameter of 80 cm each.

Hemlock trees, dubbed as living plant fossils, are on the brink of extinction and now enjoy state protection in China. Ordinary hemlock trees have an average life expectancy of about 300 years. Hemlock trees grow slowly, with an annual growth length of about two cm and a diameter of 0.12 cm.

Scientists hold that findings provide precious material for rescuing the special plant from extinction as well as research into ecological evolution. (Xinhua)