In the mountainous regions of southern China, various types of bamboo grow. Mastering the multiple uses of bamboo can be highly beneficial during outdoor activities.
Bundling items: Select bamboo that is not too old, strip off the tough outer skin, and cut it into appropriately sized strips to make bamboo strips for bundling. Braided multi-strand bamboo strips can be used to climb cliffs.
Starting a fire: The outer skin of bamboo contains oil and is highly flammable. When you can't find dry kindling in the rain during outdoor activities, wipe the surface water off the bamboo, and use a small knife to scrape the outer skin into fine shreds to use as tinder — the effect is very good.
Ingenious uses of bamboo
Carrying water: Cut larger-diameter bamboo into 1.5–2 meter sections, and use a sharpened long stick to pierce through each bamboo joint to create a water container. These bamboo tubes are suitable for fetching water when the campsite is far from a water source. Smaller bamboo can also be used to make portable water containers with stoppers.
Making cups and bowls: Cut moderately sized bamboo into about 15 cm lengths, leaving one end with a joint and cutting the other end at a 45-degree angle. Smooth the surface with a knife to create a cup for drinking water or soup. If you leave a section of the bamboo branch at the joint, you can make a cup with a handle for soup. Leave the joints at both ends of a large bamboo tube, then cut it open from the one-third point to make a great bamboo bowl for serving vegetables or soup.
Making a bed board: For sleeping in damp areas, cut some thick bamboo into two-meter tubes, and use a machete to break open each joint. Be careful not to cut all the joints along the same line. After breaking all the joints, split the bamboo tube open from one side, then press it down to create a bamboo plank. Two to three bamboo planks (depending on the size of the bamboo) can be laid out to make a bed. If large bamboo isn’t available, lay several smaller bamboos flat and secure them tightly with vines or bamboo strips to make a bed board.
Making a pot: Use bamboo with a diameter of over 5 cm, cut it into 60–80 cm tubes, ensuring one end retains an intact joint. Roll up banana leaves or winter leaves (a plant found in tropical jungles) into a cylinder the length of the bamboo tube and place it inside. Washed rice is poured into the tube, then water is added — the water level should be 10–15 cm above the rice. Seal the opening tightly with leaves or banana leaves, then prop the bamboo tube upright at an angle over the fire to cook. The water transfers heat, so the bamboo won’t burn. Typically, it takes about 40 minutes to cook the rice. When cooking rice in a bamboo tube, rotate it frequently for even heating. If you don’t use banana or winter leaves inside, you can still cook the rice, but after it’s done, you’ll need to cut away the charred parts with a knife, split the bamboo tube in half, and then remove the rice. The method for cooking vegetables or boiling water in bamboo is similar. If stirring is needed while cooking, use a stick slightly longer than the bamboo tube.