Top 10: Gen Z asks Hong Kong’s fossilised tree what it’s seen over millions of years
Curious students ask a fossilised tree about its ancient experiences, from witnessing civilisations to surviving natural disasters.
What questions would you like to ask a fossilised tree that is millions of years old? Photo: May TseThis week’s question: What is something you admire about Hong Kong’s Olympic medallists? To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 12pm on September 25. Tell us your name, age and school.
Chloe Wong Cheuk-yee, 12, Fukien Secondary School: What secrets have you overheard? What’s the most interesting conversation you’ve eavesdropped on over the centuries? I am curious about the countless stories it has silently witnessed. The tree has likely seen civilisations rise and fall, as well as important historical events like the Renaissance and World War II. It would be fascinating to know how this tree interpreted the changes around it and what historical moments it found most intriguing.
Saretta Xiao Shi-ying , 13, TWGHs Li Ka Shing College: I would like to ask the fossilised tree about more ancient things that it knows. Some history books may not tell all the details, but the fossilised tree can tell me, and it won’t be boring compared to reading books.
Candy Lam Yan Ting, 13, Christian Alliance SC Chan Memorial College: If I could chat with a fossilised tree, I would ask about its journey of experiencing natural disasters like heavy rain, typhoons and wildfires. The fossilised trees cannot run and go home when natural disasters happen. Therefore, I want to know what profound and astounding things they saw during these times. Also, I want to know how people helped each other to rebuild the streets and their houses. Although typhoons appear every year in Hong Kong, some of them must have affected the fossilised tree. It would be very interesting to hear about something I might not know and have not experienced, especially if it is shared by a tree, not from a human perspective.
Li Hong Ching, 15, TWGHs Li Ka Shing College: I would ask it some questions about the different creatures that lived before. It is because the fossilised tree must have lived in this world for a long time, and it must have seen some extinct animals, such as dinosaurs. I think this would be more interesting than a book. Secondly, I want to ask about the changes in human technology from the past to now. Science was not as advanced a few hundred years ago, and environmental pollution could have been more serious. We should let them express their feelings.
Top 10: Gen Z explains what makes them so unique
Iris Chan Cho-ki, 13, Christ College: I would ask: what do you think about humans? You would already know the answer since you have lived so long. Do you think we are good or bad? Sometimes, people cut down trees to make paper. But some of us, like farmers, would like to make more trees. And also, how did the dinosaurs yell? Were they yelling just like in the movies?
Anson Ng Wai-yan, 13, St Mary’s Canossian College: I would ask who invented homework and the rationale behind it. In this ever-changing world, we often find ourselves adopting monotonous lifestyles brimming with heavy loads of homework. Students – from preschoolers to university graduates – grapple with this same issue. I am curious to know whether homework was intended to be mandatory or if the inventor believed he was creating a better school experience for students. Has there been an increase in the amount of homework over time? While homework may not seem like a significant issue at first glance, it could have irreversible effects on students’ holistic development if it continues to escalate. Perhaps the inventor was selfish in his thinking, but we, the next generation, are left to bear the brunt, potentially creating even more challenges for the future.
Tsui Chung-chi, 16, Pui Kiu College: I would ask the tree how it survived so many natural disasters over so many years, such as floods, typhoons and earthquakes. I think it’s also a good opportunity for me to learn from the tree how I should not give up even if I face difficulties.
Sam Lee Sum-sing, 12, Hong Kong Tang King Po College: I would be fascinated to ask the tree how humans and trees were once able to coexist in harmony, what human lifespans were like during ancient times, whether it has ever experienced dramatic events like forest fires, and how it was ultimately able to survive such environmental challenges. The tree’s resilience and adaptability in the face of catastrophic occurrences could provide valuable lessons for navigating life’s difficulties.
Nicole Chan Cheuk-ying, 15, Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School: I would want to know every little story it had witnessed throughout the ages. I would ask about the animals hiding in the hollow. How many birds had built their nests on its sturdy trunks, and how many had taken flight and embarked on their journeys across the vast sky? The tree must have carried those moments that we have never known about.
Emily Liang Pie-hua, 18, Buddhist Tai Hung College: Throughout your long life, like a traveller weaving through a tapestry of diverse souls, what gives you the strength to endure this endless peregrination? Do you find joy in these fleeting connections, or does the cycle of farewells feel like a never-ending echo, leading to boredom? As you remain anchored in the same territory, how does it feel to watch the environment change, like a painter observing their canvas transform over time?
Sponsored by
Nina Park, the first and only wood fossil park in Hong Kong run by Chinachem Group, showcases a wide collection of wood fossils. Designed to both educate and entertain, this Playground for All equipped with sustainable, environmentally friendly features invites everyone to marvel at the beauty of these ancient fossils, which bear witness to the passage of time and the wonders of nature over millions of years.