Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots

Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots

Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots are mainly produced in Xianfeng Miao Ethnic Township, Bo Wangshan Town, Jiusi Town, Yuxiu Miao Ethnic Township, Daba Miao Ethnic Township, Qilin Miao Ethnic Township, Dahe Miao Ethnic Township, Zhoujia Town, and Shi Hai Town of Xingwen County. With a cultivation history of over two thousand years, they are characterized by being “nutrient-rich, meaty, crisp and tender, delicious, and naturally selenium-enriched,” and possess a unique flavor that is “fresh, fragrant, tender, and crisp.”

　　The shoots are roughly square-shaped, neither quite square nor round, with plump yellow or light yellow flesh that is crisp and tender. The shoot sheaths are glossy and not wilted, featuring the qualities of being “fresh, fragrant, tender, and crisp.”

　　Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots boast the distinctive qualities of being “nutrient-rich, meaty, crisp and tender, delicious” and having a “fresh, fragrant, tender, and crisp” taste. They are a rare delicacy that absorbs the essence of nature and embodies the spirit of the Bing Miao culture in Xingwen, making them worthy of being called “a fine mountain delicacy.” Among many bamboo shoots, Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots stand out as the “crown of bamboo shoots” and the “king of shoots.” During the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing era, they were even presented as tribute to the imperial court, acclaimed as “the finest among all bamboo shoots.”

　　Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots have high water content and a compact tissue structure, giving them a richer, more tender texture and delicious taste with a special fragrant aroma compared to other bamboo shoots. These shoots are highly nutritious, low in fat, and rich in crude protein, as well as containing significant amounts of trace elements such as selenium, iron, and zinc, along with various vitamins. Authoritative tests have shown that they are particularly abundant in iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and potassium, significantly higher than most common fresh vegetables. The levels of potassium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper in Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots are 2.6 times, 9.7 times, 8.5 times, 3.3 times, and 2.0 times the average content of root vegetables (such as radish, carrot, and lotus root), respectively; 1.9 times, 3.9 times, 5.7 times, 2.6 times, and 2.0 times the average of leafy, tender-stem, and flower vegetables; 2.8 times, 11.1 times, 17.0 times, 6.5 times, and 2.0 times the average of solanaceous and melon vegetables; and 1.7 times, 5.2 times, 5.7 times, 1.4 times, and 1.0 times the average of fresh beans and bean sprouts. Especially notable is their richness in selenium, one of the most essential trace elements for the human body, with an average content of 0.56 mg/kg.

　　In the past, many people believed that although bamboo shoots are delicious, they lack nutrition, with some even claiming that “eating a meal of bamboo shoots requires burning off three days’ worth of fat.” This perception is inaccurate. For instance, square bamboo shoots are rich in trace elements such as iron, manganese, zinc, and copper, as well as the essential element potassium—all of which are present in levels higher than those found in most vegetables. Additionally, bamboo shoots contain ample amounts of protein, amino acids, dietary fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients. Therefore, it is important to further promote public awareness of the nutritional value of bamboo shoots. Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots are not only nutrient-rich and uniquely shaped but also represent a rare seasonal mountain delicacy in autumn, offering vast potential for market development.

　　Xingwen County has an average annual precipitation of 1300 mm, an average temperature of 17.1°C, and an average annual sunshine duration of 1043 hours. The mountains within the county lie in the transitional zone between the mountainous region of the Sichuan Basin and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, belonging to the northern end of the Wumeng Mountains. These mountains run in northwest and southeast directions, forming rugged, winding ridges and peaks of varying heights, and enjoy a highly favorable microclimate. The area is richly vegetated, with a forest coverage rate of 46.77%. Xingwen Square Bamboo grows at altitudes between 800 and 1795 meters and is a unique species native to high-altitude cold mountain regions, where the average annual temperature ranges from 10 to 15°C, and annual precipitation ranges from 1064.3 to 1940.3 mm. It thrives in cool and moist climates and can grow on forest purple soil, yellow soil, or yellow-brown soil, performing especially well in mountainous yellow-brown soil, yellow soil, and forest purple soil areas at elevations of 900 to 1650 meters. The high-altitude cold mountain regions of Xingwen County, situated above 800 meters, are remote from urban centers and free from pollution by chemical plants, benefiting from relatively isolated and favorable human and natural conditions. These areas feature steep mountains, beautiful scenery, high humidity, frequent rain, limited sunshine, and dense fog. The unique geographical location, exceptional ecological environment, and climatic conditions have resulted in Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots being larger in size, thicker in flesh, and having a fresh and elegant color.

　　The production area of Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots covers the current administrative regions of Xianfeng Miao Ethnic Township, Bo Wangshan Town, Yuxiu Miao Ethnic Township, Daba Miao Ethnic Township, Qilin Miao Ethnic Township, Dahe Miao Ethnic Township, Jiusi Town, Zhoujia Town, and Shi Hai Town in Xingwen County, Sichuan Province.

　　“Request from the People’s Government of Xingwen County Regarding the Determination of the Geographical Indication Product Protection Scope for Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots,” Xingfu [2013] No. 80

　　Sichuan Provincial (Regional) Local Standard: DB511528/T1-2015

　　“Production Technical Specifications for the Protected Geographical Indication Product Xingwen Square Bamboo Shoots” (Draft)