The transformation of the local bamboo industry in Longyou county, Quzhou, Zhejiang province, has helped producers move from selling raw materials to developing branded products through digital platforms and industrial upgrades.

Longyou county boasts 27,093 hectares of bamboo forests, accounting for 49 percent of its total forest area. The bamboo industry once supported the county's economy, but it faced challenges from low-value processing, rising costs, and stricter environmental requirements.

In recent years, Longyou has promoted the integration of various platforms and industries to upgrade its bamboo sector.

Livestream hosts introduce bamboo products at a store in Longyou county. [Photo/Tide News]

At the "A Box of Hometown" Bamboo Lifestyle Store in Xikou Old Street, founder Jiang Peng uses livestreaming to sell products made from local bamboo. The company has developed 2,600 bamboo products, generating annual sales of more than 15 million yuan ($2.21 million) and helping 170 bamboo-weaving households increase their average annual income by 18,000 yuan.

Other enterprises have also shifted toward higher-value products. Longyou Foreign Trade Bamboo Shoot Factory Co invested 25 million yuan in quick-freezing production lines and developed customized bamboo shoot products for domestic and overseas markets. From January to May this year, the company recorded an output value of 40.35 million yuan, including $4.56 million in export earnings.

To further support the sector, Longyou has launched initiatives covering brand development, livestreaming, infrastructure, and quality monitoring. The county has also built a bamboo industry livestreaming alliance, bringing together 20 companies and 50 hosts.