In the golden September of autumn, deep within the bamboo forests of Qiaoshan Township in Yiliang County, a fresh rainfall has left the woods shrouded in mist and the soil soft and damp. Looking up, thousands of acres of square bamboo stretch across the mountain slopes in rolling green waves; bending down, one can see tender yellow bamboo shoots eagerly pushing through the fallen leaves and soil, revealing plump tips, some already half-emerged with promising growth. As a gentle breeze rustles the leaves, the crisp fragrance of bamboo shoots mingles with the moist earth, bringing forth an atmosphere of bountiful harvest that belongs exclusively to the mountains.

At the break of dawn, Qin Longhua, a villager from Shuitang Group in Guanfang Village, slung his specially-made harvesting bag over his shoulder, put on his gloves, and led his family into the bamboo grove. Stooping low, he carefully scanned the leaf litter, spotted a shoot just breaking through, gently brushed aside the soil, and gave a swift twist at the base—a crisp "crack" sounded, and a plump, tender square bamboo shoot landed in his palm. "The best harvest time comes after the White Dew solar term. We head into the woods around six or seven in the morning and come out around three in the afternoon. If you're quick, you can gather three to four hundred jin in a day," Qin said while working, grinning as he calculated his earnings: "I have ten acres of bamboo groves. This year's shoots look great and prices are stable; I figure I can make around 40,000 yuan when it's all sold."

Hundreds of households in Qiaoshan Township are engaged in shoot harvesting like Qin. This year, the township's bamboo planting area has grown to 28,000 acres. During the harvest season, villagers head into the mountains in groups and return fully loaded within hours. These humble bamboo shoots have become a "green bank" driving local income and prosperity.

As soon as the shoots are brought out of the forest, buyers set up temporary collection points right along the roadside, completing the entire process—grading, weighing, packing, paying, and loading—in one smooth sequence. "I can sell my harvest on the spot without traveling far, and fresh shoots are shipped out the same day," said one smiling farmer as his haul was being weighed. Beside the collection point, piles of discarded shoot husks formed small mounds. People sat on the ground, swiftly slicing and twisting with small knives to reveal the white, tender flesh inside, chatting casually while they worked, with the joy of a good harvest written plainly on every face.

Nestled deep in the Wumeng Mountain area, Qiaoshan Township's unique climate and dramatic elevation differences nurture abundant bamboo resources. In the past, villagers kept their bamboo forests but found no way to profit from them—most shoots were gathered only for personal consumption, never reaching meaningful scale. In recent years, the township has made the bamboo industry its leading pillar for rural revitalization, activating forestry resources and developing square bamboo, giant bamboo shoots, and Luohan bamboo cultivation tailored to local conditions. Local authorities have organized agricultural technicians to conduct low-efficiency forest transformation training in the woods, teaching villagers hands-on techniques for controlling density, removing diseased plants, and nurturing robust shoots. They have secured project funds to build industrial roads, extending harvest trails deep into the groves. Partnerships with companies such as Bashichuanzhen have been deepened to extend the industrial chain and boost the added value of bamboo shoots, allowing villagers to sell at good prices without leaving home. Qin Longhua did the math: "After the low-efficiency forest transformation, the groves get better air and light, shoot yields have risen noticeably, quality is better, and my income has nearly doubled compared to before." Many villagers have expanded their livestock operations with shoot earnings, and three-wheeled carts have been traded in for small trucks. The bamboo forests not only green the hillsides but also fatten the wallets of the people.

As dusk fell, Qin Longhua carried his last bag of bamboo shoots out of the forest, sweat glistening on his face and hope shining in his eyes. "Next year, I want to plant a few more acres of bamboo. As long as the policies stay favorable, I'll work hard for a few more years!" His words echoed the sentiments of many shoot farmers. In Qiaoshan Township, each shoot that breaks through the soil is not just a seasonal delicacy for the dining table—it is a "golden shoot" for mountain communities seeking prosperity. With green mountains enduring and bamboo shoots regenerating year after year, Qiaoshan's path of green development is only growing wider.