An exposed root system of a banyan tree, estimated to be over one thousand years old, was photographed in Xishuangbanna in 2003. The roots interweave and overlap at ground level, forming a dense network that blurs the distinction between trunk, branch, and soil.

Banyan trees are central to the landscapes and cultural heritage of southern Yunnan, often serving as communal gathering places and symbols of continuity. Here, the emphasis on roots rather than canopy foregrounds longevity, resilience, and the slow passage of time embedded in the natural environment.