Yueshan Water Bamboo

Yueshan Water Bamboo

Yueshan Water Bamboo is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Anhui’s Yueshan County is the largest pollution-free alpine water bamboo production base in China. In 2007, the county cultivated 74,000 mu of alpine vegetables, including 30,000 mu of water bamboo. Thanks to its snow-white color, tender texture, and premium quality, Yueshan water bamboo hits the market right when southern water bamboo is out of season in summer, quickly gaining fame in cities like Nanjing, Hefei, and Wuhan across the Yangtze River Delta.

　　　　Yueshan County in Anhui Province is nestled in the heart of the Dabie Mountains, with an average elevation of over 600 meters. The area features undulating peaks, deep forests and valleys, abundant rainfall, and a pleasant climate, earning it recognition as a national ecological protection demonstration zone.

　　Product Features

　　　　The "Dabie Mountains" brand alpine water bamboo, grown in high-altitude cold-water fields, is pollution-free, non-toxic, off-season, tender, and delicious. Rich in sugars, vitamins, proteins, and various minerals, it is considered premium-quality water bamboo. The product is mainly harvested between July and September, effectively filling the domestic market gap during summer and autumn.

　　Medicinal Value

　　　　Yueshan water bamboo from Anhui is a common vegetable on Chinese dining tables and also a frequently used ingredient in traditional Chinese medicinal cuisine. With its sweet, mild flavor and cool nature, it helps clear heat, promote body fluids, induce urination, remove dampness, and relieve constipation. It is effective for conditions such as rosacea, hypertension, constipation, and postpartum insufficient lactation.

　　Cooking Methods

　　　　After soaking in warm water for a few hours, it can be used as a regular cooking ingredient. When cooked with chicken or pork ribs, it becomes exceptionally flavorful, making it one of the most popular seasonal dishes in hot pot restaurants today.

　　Mechanized Farming

　　　　To increase the yield and quality of alpine water bamboo, Yueshan County promotes annual replanting. Previously reliant on manual labor, planting could not be completed within the season by hand alone. To advance the water bamboo industry, it was essential to fully leverage agricultural machinery and improve mechanization levels.

　　To encourage farmers to purchase machinery, Yueshan County actively sought support from provincial and municipal governments while also allocating its own funds for subsidies. In 2007, Shiguan Township provided each of the four individuals, including Peng Jinyin who bought large rotary tillers, with a subsidy of 36,000 yuan, and offered a 1,000-yuan subsidy for each small agricultural machine. Liantang Village in Liuyun Township established a machinery association under the "Party branch plus association" model, consolidating previously scattered machinery into complete sets to form an all-in-one farming service team for plowing, harrowing, sowing, and harvesting. This team operated across regions, achieving a win-win for both farmers and the association. Currently, the county has 57 machinery associations and 3 machinery cooperatives.

　　According to officials from the Yueshan County Agricultural Machinery Bureau, by 2008, the county had moved away from the old "ox-drawn cart" style of farming. Especially in the water bamboo industry, operations have largely become "iron oxen"-driven, with rapid improvements in both machinery equipment and mechanized operation levels. To date, the county’s total agricultural machinery power has reached 160,000 kilowatts, with 4,000 tractors, nearly 160,000 mu of mechanized plowing area, and over 10,000 trained machinery operators, significantly boosting new rural development.

　　Yueshan Water Bamboo Demonstration Zone

　　　　In 2008, Yueshan’s "Alpine Water Bamboo" demonstration zone was included in the national standardized demonstration zones list by the National Standardization Management Committee.

　　The Yueshan County Science and Technology Bureau has been committed to the standardization of the alpine water bamboo industry. It has increased efforts and investment in base development, technological innovation, product quality monitoring, and control of agricultural inputs. It has formulated provincial local standards DB34/T637—2006 (Alpine Water Bamboo) and DB34/T638—2006 (Production Technical Regulations for Alpine Water Bamboo), and vigorously promoted standardized production. Leveraging the opportunity of the "Alpine Water Bamboo" demonstration zone being designated as a national standardized zone, the bureau plans to capitalize on the advantages of this national project. Over the next three years, it aims to establish a 3,333.33-hectare high-quality, high-yield, and efficient national standardized demonstration zone to boost the yield and quality of alpine water bamboo and enhance its market competitiveness.