Bamboo Garden

Bamboo Garden

Bamboo has a long and rich history in Chinese culture. Along with pine and plum, it is honored as one of the "Three Friends of Winter," and like plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum, it is revered as a "gentleman." With a wide variety of species and enchanting charm, bamboo is not only highly versatile and economically valuable but also holds unique aesthetic and tourism appeal. The Bamboo Botanical Garden in Hua’an is just such a diverse and captivating tourist destination. The Bamboo Botanical Garden was established in November 1992 and is located on Guizailong Mountain, west of Jiulongping Lake in Chengguan. The garden is divided into five zones and one garden: the Bamboo Species Classification Zone, Ornamental Bamboo Species Zone, Production Zone, Rare Bamboo Introduction Zone, Memorial Bamboo Grove, and Folk Culture Garden. In terms of utility and economic value, bamboo can be described as "one bamboo, many uses, benefiting people’s livelihoods": bamboo can be used for making paper, producing engineered wood, daily necessities, and bamboo crafts; bamboo shoots are a premium food item; bamboo roots can be carved; bamboo branches can be processed into brooms; bamboo leaves can be used to produce beverages or serve as materials for export packaging; substances extracted from bamboo, such as fresh bamboo juice and tabasheer, can be used in traditional Chinese medicine; and bamboo shavings are excellent material for cultivating the highly prized bamboo fungus. Aesthetically speaking, bamboo remains green all year, with graceful and elegant forms, possessing a distinctive charm. The saying “Bamboo has joints before it emerges from the soil, and remains hollow-hearted even when reaching the clouds” symbolizes its embodiment of humility, elegance, and integrity. Lush groves of bamboo naturally inspire thoughts of qualities such as resilience against adversity, endurance through hardship, and unbreakable spirit.

Stepping into the bamboo forest, you are greeted by an endless sea of green, with cool shade leading into serene depths, stirring boundless emotions and evoking a sense of tranquility. Unknowingly, it gently cultivates one's sentiments, purifies the soul, and elevates one's character. When you take a closer look at each bamboo stalk or grove, you might imagine them as graceful young maidens—pure, delicate, and standing proudly. Due to Hua’an’s unique geographical conditions, most bamboo species found across China can be cultivated here, making this Bamboo Botanical Garden the largest in the country in terms of planted area, species diversity, attribute comprehensiveness, and functional scope. It serves as a comprehensive base for bamboo research and education, bamboo production and promotion, tourism and leisure, as well as academic exchange and demonstration. This year, a folk culture garden showcasing the traditions of the Gaoshan and She ethnic groups has been added within the Bamboo Botanical Garden as part of its tourism supporting services. The uniquely styled architecture and captivating song and dance performances add a splendid and vibrant touch to the Bamboo Botanical Garden.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission