Shixing Moso Bamboo

Shixing Moso Bamboo

　　Moso bamboo, also known as Miao bamboo, is one of the economic crops commonly grown in subtropical mountainous areas. It typically requires an average annual temperature of 13.0°C and an annual precipitation of 1,000 mm. Shixing County has an average annual temperature of 19.6°C and an annual precipitation of 1,527.7 mm, meeting the climatic conditions required for moso bamboo growth. In recent years, moso bamboo has been cultivated on 178,000 mu of land, with a total stock of 21.36 million poles and an annual yield of 1 million poles. As a result, moso bamboo cultivation has become a major economic crop in Shixing since ancient times. Its main production areas are located in Beishan, Luoba, and Chengjiang, among which the Beishan Miao bamboo is considered the best—hence the saying, “Timber from Nanshan, bamboo from Beishan.” Shixing moso bamboo is known for being thick, straight, with sparse nodes, solid, and strong fiber properties. Therefore, it has a wide range of uses, mainly in construction, papermaking, and the processing of bamboo products such as bamboo chairs, mats, chopsticks, baskets, and winnowing baskets.

　　Thanks to the abundant moso bamboo resources in Shixing, two other local specialties have also emerged—dried bamboo shoots and handmade paper. Handmade paper is made from the tender shoots of moso bamboo. The handmade paper produced in Shixing is characterized by its whiteness, smoothness, softness, and strong water absorption. There are several varieties, including Dongzhuang paper, Shanbei paper, Yuke paper, Zhongtong paper, Yongtong paper, Motou paper, Quanliao paper, Jingwen paper, and straw paper. Among them, Dongwen paper is of the highest quality, while tong paper and Jingwen paper are the most widely produced. As early as during the Republican era, there were over 100 paper mills of various sizes across the county, with an annual output of more than 10,000 dan (a traditional unit of weight), most of which were sold to other regions and even exported abroad, making it a pillar industry in bamboo-growing areas such as Beishan. Moso bamboo is also one of the main raw materials for bamboo shoots.

　　Shixing moso bamboo shoots come in two types: winter shoots and spring shoots. They are delicious and are considered one of the great side dishes. Due to their large yield, farmers often process spring shoots into dried bamboo shoots, which are easy to preserve and can be enjoyed all year round. Dried bamboo shoots have also become one of Shixing’s important export products.