Deqing Mao Bamboo

Deqing Mao Bamboo

　　Deqing County enjoys a warm and humid climate with fertile soil. The hardworking local people, with their wisdom and creativity, have developed the production of local specialties, adding further charm to their hometown.

　　 　　Pine, bamboo, and plum are traditionally known as the “Three Friends of Winter.” Among them, bamboo, in particular, stands fearless against severe cold and scorching heat, embodying traits such as firmness, uprightness, modesty, and unity—qualities that have long been admired by scholars and artists. The renowned Qing Dynasty painter and poet Zheng Banqiao once wrote: “Biting firmly onto the green mountain, never letting go, its roots deep in the cracked rocks. Enduring a thousand grinds and strikes yet remaining tough, letting the winds blow from any direction.” This poem praises the noble character of bamboo.

　　 　　Bamboo has been widely cultivated in Deqing for a long time. Lush bamboo groves can be found everywhere, from the deep mountain valleys in the west to the front yards and back alleys of homes in the plains and water towns. The saying, “Better to live without meat than without bamboo,” highlights the close relationship between bamboo and people’s daily lives.

　　 　　There are many varieties of bamboo. The main types in Deqing include Mao bamboo, light bamboo, moso bamboo, early-yuan bamboo, and feeding chicken bamboo. Currently, there are 139,020 mu of Mao bamboo, 43,727 mu of mixed bamboo forests, and 2,955 mu of early-yuan bamboo. Mao bamboo, light bamboo, and moso bamboo are mainly produced in towns such as Fatie, Nanlu, Houwu, Shangbai, and Duhekou; early-yuan bamboo is primarily grown in areas like Wukang, Erdou, Qiushan, Chengguan, Leidian, and Shangbai. Nowadays, in key production areas like Fatie, Houwu, and Nanlu, bamboo forest income accounts for 60–70% of the total income from forest products, making it economically significant.

　　 　　Currently, Deqing has 12,000 mu of high-yield Mao bamboo forests, a 5,000-mu commercial base for large fishing bamboo poles, and a total bamboo stock of 30 million poles, averaging 180 poles per mu. Each year, 2–3 million commercial bamboo poles are supplied, with peak years exceeding 4 million. The yield per mu reaches over 16 poles, ranking first in the nation (the national average is 2.2 poles per mu). At present, Deqing County’s total bamboo output is second only to Anji County in Zhejiang Province and Guangde County in Anhui Province, making it one of the country’s major bamboo-producing regions. The recently established Northern Zhejiang Mao Bamboo Market is the largest trading and distribution hub for bamboo in the country.

　　 　　In the past, most of Deqing’s bamboo was sold as raw material to other regions. Today, the local bamboo-growing communities place great emphasis on developing bamboo resources. Leveraging the nearby tourist destination Mount Mogan, they have vigorously expanded the production of bamboo handicrafts to achieve greater economic benefits. The Mogan Mountain Fan Factory in Fatie Township utilizes local Mao bamboo resources to produce exquisitely crafted and beautifully designed fans of various styles, which are sold both domestically and internationally. The Fatie Township Particleboard Factory transforms bamboo processing waste into plywood, conserving scarce timber resources for the nation. This approach not only maximizes the use of bamboo resources to help locals achieve prosperity through labor but also supports national development.