A farmer harvests water bamboo in Jingning She autonomous county in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

Jingning She autonomous county in Lishui, Zhejiang, has leveraged its high-altitude cool climate and natural spring water to cultivate high-quality water bamboo.

With an off-season harvest and crisp, sweet taste, the crop has become a key driver of rural vitalization, transforming from a small product into a major industry.

In Chalin village, Daji township, over 1,000 mu (66.67 hectares) of water bamboo are thriving, with farmers busy reaping, shelling, sorting, and packing. Chalin was the first to trial cultivation in 2003 and has since evolved into large-scale standardized farming, providing stable incomes for many households.

The high-altitude environment, with large temperature differences and spring irrigation, gives the local water bamboo a crisper texture and later harvest time than other water bamboos, avoiding peak market competition. The scenic fields also attract summer tourists who purchase produce on-site.

Trading markets in Shangbiao village provide sorting and packaging jobs, with household incomes reaching 50,000 to 60,000 yuan ($7,438.59 to $8,926.31) in good years. Compared to traditional crops, water bamboo offers higher returns and stronger crop resilience, encouraging locals to take part in farming.

The produce is shipped to Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, and other cities through order-based partnerships with major retailers.

Jingning now boasts a full industrial chain from harvest to logistics, creating jobs and boosting incomes. In 2025, the planting area reached 8,300 mu, with an output of 15,000 metric tons and an industry value of 62.96 million yuan, benefiting over 1,000 households.