Hezhou Li Bamboo

Hezhou Li Bamboo

　　Li Bamboo is a specialty of Hezhou, primarily produced in the local Butou Town. It features straight bamboo poles, thick walls, thin branches, sparse leaves, flat nodes, fine rings, a smooth surface, toughness, high elasticity, resistance to pests, and corrosion, earning it the reputation of "steel bamboo."

　　Brief Introduction to the Producing Area

　　Butou Town is situated in the southeast of Hezhou City, about 36 kilometers from the urban area of Babu. It borders Huaiji County of Guangdong Province to the east, Cangwu County to the west, Xindu Town to the south, and Hejie Town to the north. The original township seat was established at Butou Market, built during the Qing Dynasty as a wharf along the Hejiang River waterway, commonly known as Butou, hence the name. In 1970, the construction of the Hemiushi Hydropower Station led to its submersion, and the township government was relocated to Meihua while retaining the original name. The total area of the town is 534 square kilometers, accounting for about one-tenth of the area of Babu District.

　　Specialty Brief Introduction

　　Li Bamboo, also known as Tea Pole Bamboo, generally grows over 10 meters tall with a diameter of 3–5 centimeters, and can reach up to 8 centimeters. It has strong climatic adaptability and can grow even in sub-zero temperatures, but thrives best in warm, humid environments with ample sunlight. It requires high-quality soil—deep, loose, acidic sandy loam rich in organic matter and minerals, at elevations between 150–700 meters. The world-renowned "China Aozai Tea Pole Bamboo" mainly comes from these two districts.

　　Specialty History

　　According to oral accounts, during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, a farmer from Aozai was found cutting a bundle of wild tea pole bamboo, which he transported to Guangzhou on a raft for sale. A British merchant, impressed by the bamboo’s bright yellow color and toughness, bought several stalks and took them back to Britain, where they received much praise. Later, the merchant commissioned Chinese traders to procure large quantities for the British market, specifying that only tea pole bamboo from Aozai, Huaiji, was acceptable. This drew attention from relevant Chinese authorities, who organized investigation teams to study tea pole bamboo in provinces such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, and Zhejiang. They found that the highest quality came from Aozai, Huaiji County, Guangdong, earning it titles like "steel bamboo" and "king of bamboos." In 1925 (the 14th year of the Republic of China), American botanist McClure traveled specifically to Datong Village in Aozai, staying for over 10 days to study the ecological environment, quality, and export status of the bamboo. He later documented his findings, including photos of the bamboo forests and stalks, which were included in the book "World Bamboo Research." The United States later used Huaiji Aozai tea pole bamboo to manufacture parts for aircraft fuel tanks. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union crafted the "Kuibyshev" brand of ski poles from this bamboo, which became wildly popular and even led international ski competitions to mandate the use of ski poles made from Huaiji Aozai tea pole bamboo. In 1974, Martin, McClure’s student, an international geographer, professor at Harvard University, and vice president of the Geographic Society, traveled to Aozai with his wife in accordance with his teacher’s will to conduct another study on the bamboo. Upon his return, he provided a detailed account in the book "World Bamboo Research," further enhancing the fame of Huaiji Aozai tea pole bamboo.