In Xianfeng Miao Township, Xingwen County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, rolling mountains are now blanketed by seas of green bamboo. At dawn, villager Chen Wenfu heads into the bamboo forest with tools, carefully inspecting each plant. He deftly cuts down weak or diseased bamboos, knowing that proper density ensures the forest’s healthy growth. For years, Chen has understood that sustainable management is key to the bamboo’s vitality.

Designated as the "Hometown of Chinese Square Bamboo" by the China Forestry Society, Xianfeng Miao Township exemplifies Sichuan’s efforts to revitalize ethnic minority areas through sustainable industries. The provincial government has established an industrial development fund for ethnic regions, driving rural revitalization and boosting farmers’ incomes. Here, bamboo forests have become not only a scenic landmark but also a "green engine" for rural prosperity.

Decades ago, the township relied on coal and sulfur mining, leading to severe desertification. Chen recalled that around 2010, locals realized the "black economy" was unsustainable and began shifting to a "green" path. At the time, over 20,000 mu of wild square bamboo grew on Xianfeng Mountain, but poor management kept yields low. Recognizing the plant’s economic potential, the township encouraged villagers to transplant wild bamboo and launched large-scale afforestation projects in desertified areas, abandoned mines, and barren hills. Key initiatives included the Modern Forestry Key County Project, the Ten-Thousand-Mu Forest Hundred-Million-Yuan Project, the High-Yield Square Bamboo Demonstration Plot, and the Modern Agricultural Park. After over a decade, the bamboo plantation area has expanded to more than 100,000 mu, yielding about 8,300 tons of bamboo shoots annually, with a production value of 66 million yuan. The integrated primary, secondary, and tertiary industries now generate over 400 million yuan, boosting the township’s per capita income by 3,200 yuan.

To enhance cultivation efficiency, Xianfeng has partnered with institutions like Zhejiang A&F University. In 2021, experts from the university established a workstation there, introducing advanced techniques: soil oxygenation, pest control, water-fertilizer integration, specialized controlled-release fertilizers, and forest structure optimization. These measures have significantly improved yields: planting density was adjusted from 20,000 to 3,600 plants per mu, and annual shoot yield per mu increased from 75 kg to 250 kg, even exceeding 500 kg in some areas.

Square bamboo drives the local economy, with nearly 95% of households engaged in bamboo-related industries. Renowned for their tender texture and rich nutrients, square bamboo shoots are in high demand. In 2024, the township harvested 8,300 tons of shoots, worth 66 million yuan. During the autumn harvest, Yi people from neighboring areas join the picking, supplementing labor and fostering ethnic integration, said Feng Yi, Deputy Township Head.

A complete industrial chain has formed around bamboo shoots. After grading, preservation, and cold-chain logistics, fresh shoots are quickly transported afar. "Picked at dawn, they reach supermarkets in coastal areas the same day via air freight," Feng noted. These mountain-grown shoots are popular in the Yangtze River Delta and have entered Southeast Asian markets.

To extend the industry chain, Xianfeng launched a bamboo shoot processing plant with 2.5 million yuan from Sichuan’s Ethnic Minority Areas Development Fund, attracting nearly 10 million yuan in social and private capital. The plant provides jobs for over 50 locals and generates about 170,000 yuan annually for village collectives through leasing.

Tao Fen, a plant worker, sees her monthly income rise from 2,000–3,000 yuan to 4,000–5,000 yuan. "Earning this in the countryside is satisfying," she said, adding that her family’s 40–50 mu of bamboo forests supply the plant, combining farm and wage incomes for a better life.

Chen Jiali, head of Sichuan Yunling Mountain Delicacies Food Co., Ltd., which rents the plant, notes stable partnerships with major supermarket suppliers. While current products are semi-processed, she plans to upgrade facilities and technology for deep processing, aiming to increase efficiency and secure villagers’ incomes. (Text/Li Feng, Photos/Wang Lei)