Top 6 Bamboo Forests in China | Best China Bamboo Seas in 2023

Shunan Bamboo Forest (蜀南竹海) is one of the top ten most beautiful forests and the most distinctive 10 scenic spots in China. Located in Yibin City in southern Sichuan Province, it covers an area of 120 square kilometers, with 45 square kilometers of core scenic spots. There are over 10 scenic areas in Shunan Bamboo Forest and more than 130 attraction sites. Consisting of 27 steep mountains and more than 500 peaks, there are more than 400 kinds of bamboo in the scenic area, covering more than 70,000 mu. The branches of bamboo are piled in the air and their roots are stacked underground, making the scenery verdant and striking, vast and magnificent.

As the largest natural bamboo forest scenic area in the world, the unique geographical location of Shunan Bamboo Forest has been credited with "Bamboo Sea Hiding in Mountain Cloud, Heaven and Earth". It is the world's rare and China's only bamboo culture and ecological tourism destination with bamboo scenery, mountains and rivers, lakes, waterfalls and ancient temples as a whole. Shunan Bamboo Forest has a vegetation coverage rate of 92.4%. The scenic spot is a natural oxygen bar with pleasant green and fresh air. It is also a famous film and television base in southern Sichuan.

Shunan Bamboo Forest for visiting all year around. In spring, new bamboo shoots are everywhere, full of vitality; In midsummer, tender bamboo shade the sun for visitors, waterfalls rush down and springs gush from underground, making the places a perfect summer resort; In golden autumn, the green bamboo forest is dotted with red leaves; In the depths of winter, the forest is peaceful and silent. Sometime you may also see white snow hanging over the bamboo tips, forming a delightful contrast.

• Highlights: Wangyou Valley, Guanyun Pavilion, Emerald Corridor, Sea in the Sea, Xianyu Cave, Rainbow Waterfall, Qinglong Lake, etc.
• Activities: Take Bamboo Forest Sightseeing Cable; Enjoy the Panoramic and Breathtaking View of Bamboo Forest at Guanyun Pavilion; Row the Bamboo Rafts on Sea in the Sea...
• Distance from Chengdu City: 311 km, takes 3.5-4 hours by car and 2 hours by high-speed trains.
• Hottest Shunan Bamboo Forest Tour: ✔ 4 Days Chengdu Essence with Shunan Bamboo Forest Summer Vacation

China Bamboo Expo Park (中国大竹海), also known as Anji Bamboo Sea, is located in Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is a pure bamboo forestland, the largest bamboo culture and ecological leisure tourism area in southeast China, and the most famous bamboo production example base in Zhejiang Province.

Taking natural resources of bamboo, countryside, mountains, water as the background, China Bamboo Expo Park develops according to the concept of internationalization, quality and idyllic. With bamboo as the setting and the forest sea as the environment, the scenic spot is built into a provincial tourist resort and a tourist destination of bamboo village and the best ecological health resort in the Yangtze River Delta with the functions of "bamboo sea sightseeing, bamboo village leisure, cultural experience, film and television entertainment, vacation and health".

The whole scenic area is mainly based on the original natural scenery. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, bamboo groves lead to hills, hills follow the bamboo forests, meeting the eye on every side dark green. It is a long roll of layered bamboo landscape paintings. With the vast bamboo landscape as the main highlight and the magical "five girls spring" as the auxiliary, tourists can enjoy the endless pleasure of returning to nature by meeting the king of bamboo, appreciating the bamboo sea, playing along rivers, enjoying bamboo arts, watching the bamboo plays, visiting bamboo factories, buying bamboo handicrafts, eating bamboo feasts and living in bamboo houses.

• Highlights: Bamboo Sea Corridor, Bamboo Kingdom, Yongzhu Pavilion, Guanzhu Tower, Five Girls Spring, Five Girls Lake, etc.
• Activities: Stroll at Bamboo Kingdom to Admire More than 300 Sorts of Bamboo Trees; Visit Bamboo Museum to Look Closely at various Bamboo Artifacts and Discover the Profound 6,000-year-old Bamboo Culture; Go to Panda House to Meet the Innocent Giant Pandas...
• Nearby Attractions:: Zhongnan Baicaoyuan, Yunshang Caoyuan (Sky Land), Moganshan, Nanxun Old Town and Qiandao Lake, etc.
• Distance from Hangzhou City: 73km, takes 1.5-2 hours by car.
• Hottest Anji Bamboo Sea Tour: ✔ 2 Days Anji Bamboo Sightseeing & Adventure Tour

Yixing Bamboo Forest (宜兴竹海) is located in the southwest of Yixing City, across Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. It is a sea of bamboo with a magnificent scene. In spring, the bamboo forest is bright green and it is especially lovely after the rain. In summer, it is a cooler summer resort and where the temperature is much lower than that in the city. After entering the scenic area, the first scenic spot that catches the eye of tourists is the Mirror Lake, quietly reflecting the surrounding bamboo forest and rolling mountains. There are "living fossil" - peach blossom jellyfish in the lake, and you can see it from a pavilion in the east. In the west there is a rope bridge, temples, and some ancient ginkgoes.

With such a green barrier as peculiar bamboo, water, trees, rocks, caves and flowers, other highlights in Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area include the first peak in South Jiangsu, Maolong Pond, the first source of Taihu Lake and Ji Zhao Zen Temple, etc. Located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, Yunv Peak is the first peak in southern Jiangsu. It is 611.5 meters above sea level and the highest peak in the over 80 square kilometers Yinan Mountain Area. Standing at the top of the mountain and far looking in the distance, three provinces are at a glance, the mountains overlapping in the light and shadow. You may feel the fresh breeze blowing gently, which is quite refreshing!

• Highlights: The First Source of Taihu Lake, The First Peak in South Jiangsu, Exquisite Scenery of Jinghu Lake, Bamboo Waterfall, Emerald Corridor, Hanging Walkway, etc.
• Distance from Wuxi City: 84km, takes 1.5-2 hours by car.
• Hottest Wuxi Tour: ✔ 2 Days Wuxi Highlights Tour

The Tea Mountain Bamboo Sea (茶山竹海) was originally known as the Ji Mountain. The name was given by Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the ancient Three Kingdoms of Shu. Known as "The mountain for Hermit", it was called Canglong Mountain in ancient times, together with Emei Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain and Jiuzhaigou, are known as the four sceneries in Chongqing and Sichuan.

Chashan Zhuhai National Forest Park in Chongqing has a humid climate in the subtropical zone, with an average annual temperature of about 15°C. Compared with the "furnace" urban area of Chongqing in midsummer, the temperature is about 6°C~10°C lower, and the microclimate features are obvious. The atmospheric environment in the park has reached the national top level, with the content of negative oxygen ions reaching 30,000 to 50,000 per cubic centimeter. It is an ideal natural oxygen bar.

The main highlights of the park are Bodao Ling and Fan Bamboo Sea (Shanziwan Bamboo Sea). Bodao Ling is the highest peak of Ji Mountain and also the highest peak in the west of Chongqing. The mountain is high, steep and winding. Climbing on the peak and overlooking, you can see three jade-belt-like rivers. Shanziwan Bamboo Sea, covering an area of about 7,000 mu, is 500-800 meters above sea level. It gets the name because of its unique terrain, wide bay and deep ditch, like an open large fan. The House of Flying Daggers was shot on location here.

• Highlights: Bodaoling, Zhu De Tea House, Fan Bay Bamboo Sea (Shanziwan Bamboo Sea), The Ruins of the Temple of the Son of Heaven, etc.
• Nearby Attraction: Dazu Rock Carvings
• Distance from Chongqing: 55km, takes 1.5-2 hours by car.
• Hottest Chongqing Tour: ✔ 2 Days Chongqing City Tour with Dazu Rock Carving

Chishui Zhuhai National Forest Park (赤水竹海) is one of the natural scenic spots in the Chishui Scenic Area. Located more than 40 kilometers east of Chishui City, Guizhou Province, the park covers an area of 10,666 hectares. With the vast "bamboo sea" scenery as the top highlight, the park is divided into three scenic sections. The central scenic spot is the Wild Bamboo Sightseeing and Leisure Area. Besides, this is a beautiful section with bamboo sea scenery, waterfalls, primitive forests, wild animals and the spectacle of Danxia. It is an ideal resort for people to relax, take vacations and recuperate in summer. There are also other amazing natural spots like "Tianluo" Danxia Echo Cliff, "Dipu" Ground Waterfall, "Eight Immortals Tree" and "Couple Tree", etc. The park has over 170,000 mu of bamboo covering the mountains and hills. Boarding the Guanhai Tower in the park, leaning on a railing and overlooking. In front of you is the boundless green sea of bamboo, paving mountains and covering ridges. When the mountain wind blows, green waves burst and ripples, very refreshing!

• Highlights: Tianluo, Dipu, Eight Immortals Tree and Couple Tree, etc.
• Nearby Attraction: Chishui Waterfall, Five Column Peak, Four Hole Gully, Yangjiayan, China Jurassic Park, Yanziyan National Forest Park, Bingan Ancient Town, Datong Ancient Town and Fengxikou, etc.
• Distance from Chishui City: 40km away from the city center, takes 1-1.5 hours by car.

The Star Bamboo Sea (星星竹海), also known as "Bamboo Sea of Ten Thousand Acre", is located at the junction of three counties (cities) of Xianning, Chongyang and Chibi within the territory of Tingsi Ancient Town of Xianning City. It is not only the Forestry Research Base of the United Nations, but also the largest bamboo forest in Hubei Province. With a total area of 100,000 mu, the highest point of the scenic spot is more than 700 meters above sea level. The average annual temperature here is about 15 degrees and the frost-free period is about 260 days. The existing bamboo forest coverage rate is over 90%. Here Lin Mao, bamboo show, pine, stone strange, elegant environment, pleasant climate, is an ideal tourist rest and summer resort. With dense forests, verdant bamboo, exotic pines and cypresses, rugged rocks, elegant environment and charming climate, it is an ideal tourist site and summer resort.

The seasonal sceneries of the star bamboo sea is quite different. In spring, magnolia flowers blossom, hundreds of birds contend in singing, bamboo shoots spring up one after another; With branches and leaves whirling, tender bamboos are graceful, green and luxuriant in summer; Autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are pale. Under bright moon light and fresh breezes, bamboo sea rolling like ripple in the sea; In winter, a clear day after snow, bamboo groves are dense, icy snow-covered bamboos and gem like bamboo leaves, composing an exquisite bamboo painting.

• Highlights: Bamboo Pavilion, Guanzhu Platform, Banshan Spring, Stone Dragon, Qunxianhuilong, Wangs Celestial Burial, Tianshen Cave, Ancient Forest, Cypress World, Caixian Cliff, etc.
• Nearby Attraction: Xianning Spring.
• Distance from Wuhan City: 86km away from the city center

The best time to appreciate the magnificent bamboo sea scenery is in summer, when bamboo is in their most lush time. Moreover, the bamboo sea is very cool in summer and has high oxygen content, so if you are traveling in the cities or provinces along the Yangtze River, the bamboo sea is a hot spot that cannot be missed.

Check all China Summer Tours >>

The bamboo sea landscape is similar. So you can choose the bamboo sea you want to visit according to your other tourist destinations. If you are land in Shanghai and would like to explore diverse natural scenery south of Yangtze River, you can travel to Shanghai with Suzhou and Hangzhou for 5-7 days and then take 1-2 days to relax in the bamboo forests nearby. China Bamboo Expo Park in Anji and Yixing Bamboo Forest in Wuxi are the top recommended.

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour

☛ 2 Days Anji Bamboo Sightseeing & Adventure Tour

If you are planning to visit Chengdu or other destinations in Sichuan, Shunan Bamboo Forest could be your first choice. For those who have plans to visit Chongqing, Wuhan or the Three Gorges, Chashan Zhuhai in Chongqing or Xianning Star Bamboo Sea near Wuhan would be a better choice.

☛ 4 Days Chengdu Essence with Shunan Bamboo Forest Summer Vacation

☛ 2 Days Chongqing City Tour with Dazu Rock Carving

☛ 4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze Cruise