Eshan Bamboo Sea Travelogue: Entering a Green Dream Deep in Central Yunnan

At seven in the morning, the sunlight still carries the coolness of dew. Departing from Kingda Hotel, after driving northwest for half an hour past Eshan County, my eyes were suddenly scorched by an endless expanse of green—this is the little-known secret of central Yunnan, the ten-thousand-mu Bamboo Sea of Eshan.

After parking, what greeted me first was not the expected noise, but the "rustling" sound of bamboo leaves rubbing together, mixed with the faint bamboo fragrance carried by the mountain breeze, instantly filtering out the city's restlessness. Walking along the bluestone path deeper into the bamboo sea, I occasionally stepped on fallen dry bamboo sheaths, which made a slight "creak" sound, becoming the perfect rhythm for the journey.

Reaching the mountainside, I suddenly saw a clear pond hidden under the bamboo shade. The water was so clear that the pebbles at the bottom were visible, and the bamboo on the shore reflected in the water, even the curve of the wind passing by was clearly mirrored. I couldn't help but raise my camera to capture the scene of "bamboo shadows entering the pond, wind moving shadows swaying" from a low angle—the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the bamboo leaves sprinkled on the pond surface, the light spots dancing like scattered gold. At the moment I pressed the shutter, even the air seemed to slow down.

Continuing upward, the bamboo path became steeper, but at the corner, I encountered a surprise: a wooden plank walkway suspended among the bamboo forest, with handmade bamboo lanterns hanging beside it, their red strings gently swaying in the wind. Standing on the walkway looking into the distance, the ten-thousand-mu bamboo forest layered and stretched to the horizon. Nearby bamboo stalks stood tall, distant bamboo waves rolled, and even the clouds at the edge of the sky were tinged with light green. At this moment, no need to deliberately find an angle; every shot is a magnificent scene of "ten-thousand mu of verdant green reaching the horizon, a walkway suspended in the air like a painting."

By afternoon, the sunlight softened, casting long shadows on the bamboo stalks. I found a stone bench among the bamboo forest to sit on and saw a local elder walking by with a bamboo basket on his back, filled with freshly dug spring bamboo shoots, the edges of the basket still covered with fresh soil. With permission, I used my camera to capture the moment the elder bent down to arrange the basket—the rough palms contrasted with the tender bamboo shoots, bamboo shadows falling on his wrinkled face, embodying the most rustic and genuine life of this bamboo sea.

On the way back at dusk, I glanced back at the bamboo sea in the twilight. The sunset cast the last golden light on the bamboo tips, the originally green leaves gradually dyed warm orange. When the wind passed, it felt as if the entire bamboo sea was gently bidding farewell. This travel shoot had no dazzling internet-famous check-in spots but was filled with green wind, clear ponds, simple people, and boundless tranquility—the best scenery is always found in those quiet corners where time lingers gently.
Kingda Hotel｜TRANQUILELEGANCE·KINGDA (Yuxi Wanda Plaza Taobao Street Night Market Branch) Yi Ren Gu Ten-Thousand-Mu Bamboo Sea

Post by MAX MOLINA | Oct 27, 2025