A mature tree growing from the masonry of Nanjing’s Ming city wall creates a quiet contrast between living growth and monumental architecture. The image works as both a historical cityscape and a study in texture, age, and resilience.

Construction of Nanjing’s Ming city wall began in 1366 and took 28 years. Nanjing’s culture and tourism authorities record the capital-city wall at 35.267 kilometers when completed, with about 25.091 kilometers surviving today. The earlier copy’s symbolic claims about the specific tree’s roots and cultural meaning have been removed because they were interpretive rather than historical facts.

Available in canvas and framed cotton-paper formats in multiple sizes.