An over 900 year-old camphor tree in Zhejiang province is facing probably the toughest challenge in its whole life--relocation, from home Jingning county to Longquan city more than 100 kilometers away.

The local news website zjol.com.cn said the living relic was auctioned for 238,000 yuan, bought by Ye Jianzhong, a plantation owner and an experienced gardener in Longquan.

Workers uproot a 900-year-old giant camphor tree, in Jingning county of eastern Zhejiang province in this photo published on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. (photo:zjol.com.cn)

To remove the old tree to Longquan, Ye, leading a group of workers, has spent days trimming the braches and the extensive roots that's deeply embedded in the ground.

"Remove an old tree and it will die", the saying has deeply worried Ye, who once successfully removed 40 camphor trees from nearby Songyang county to his plantation during a hot summer.

Even though all the uprooting works went smoothly, its chance of survival is only 40%, Ye said, upset by the overwhelming size of the tree.

The tree is still 13 meters tall despite all the trimming and cutting. Workers have trimmed the tree as much as possible for transportation purposes without endangering its life.

It is such a cruel test for a tree this age, Ye added, not knowing whether or not the tree can adjust to the environment at his plantation if it is lucky enough to make it to Longquan.

The camphor tree, together with several other trees, either aged or of rare varieties, was approved by the local government to be cut down for city constructions.

To preserve such a scarce historical relic and add a precious member to his plantation, Ye Jianzhong bought this tree in early March through auction.