As summer peaks, Hangzhou’s ancient temples come alive with the blossoming of the Aesculus chinensis Bunge, draping the city in serene tranquility.  

True to its name, the "seven-leaf tree" stretches its branches like open palms, each cradling seven delicate leaves. By midsummer, its lush foliage erupts with slender white flower spikes, swaying gently in the breeze. Unlike flamboyant blooms, its soft green-and-ivory hues radiate quiet grace—a living meditation.  

Deeply sacred in Buddhism, it’s one of the faith’s four holy trees. Legend says these very trees once shaded Buddha as he preached, their likeness immortalized in Dunhuang’s murals behind divine figures.  

Centuries ago, monks brought its seeds from Central Asia to Lingyin Temple. Today, these timeless guardians still watch over sacred grounds, their whispers entwined with prayers across generations.