Bamboo symbolizes elegance and vitality. Silun Town in Luoding is renowned as the "Hometown of Bamboo Steamers" in China.
Silun Town, Luoding. (Photo: captured from TV program)
Bamboo steamers represent a traditional craft of the local community and are recognized as part of intangible cultural heritage. Food steamed in these bamboo steamers retains its original flavor while carrying a distinctive bamboo aroma, appealing to modern consumers' preference for healthy eating.
With market expansion and branding efforts, bamboo steamers have emerged as a key industry for the local economy. About 12,000 people in the town are involved in steamer production, yielding approximately 85 million steamers annually. These steamers account for 80% of national production and 85% of exports, generating an annual revenue exceeding 300 million yuan. Each household earns roughly 40,000 yuan annually from the production of bamboo steamers.
Since the 1980s, Silun's steamers have been exported to Hong Kong, Macao, and beyond, reaching every corner of the globe. Today, 8.5 out of every 10 bamboo steamers sold overseas are produced in Silun, a testament to their global reach, with the saying, "Wherever there are Chinese, there are Silun steamers."
Shen Meijuan showcasing bamboo steamers online (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
During a July visit to a popular beach in Thailand, a Luoding native named Xiao Mei stumbled upon a beverage shop using bamboo-woven handles for carrying milk tea. In the tropical scenic area, these bamboo handles stood out as unique and harmonious, bearing the label "made in China."
On Elizabeth Street in Manhattan's Chinatown, New York, the time-honored Cantonese restaurant Fook Lam Moon Seafood Restaurant serves dim sum in bamboo steamers hailing from faraway Silun, adding a unique touch to the dining experience.
Beverage shop in a Thai tourist spot using bamboo handles for packaging (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Driven by the pursuit of healthy and delicious cuisine, Silun's bamboo steamers have gained popularity in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and other regions. Their low cost, environmental friendliness, and health benefits are significant advantages in overseas trade.
"Our Chinese clients in Canada introduce us to American clients, who then introduce us to clients in the UK..." shared Zhang Qunying, the head of Luoding Hengzhao Steamer Co. Ltd. Word-of-mouth recommendations have led to the spread of Silun bamboo steamers in an ever-growing number of countries, including New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Demand for overseas bamboo steamers surges during the Christmas holidays and Chinese Lunar New Year.
Centered on Silun Town, seven other towns and sub-districts in Luoding, including Tanbin, Jiayi, Longwan, Lishao, Lianzhou, and Fucheng, cultivate the Schizostachyum funghomii (special bamboo used for Silun steamers).
In recent years, Luoding has embarked on a journey to develop six major industrial clusters valued at 10 billion yuan, with modern agriculture as a key component. The city encourages the creation of new products and the cultivation of new farmers. As a result, innovative products such as microcomputer-controlled multifunctional electric cookers, electric steamers, bamboo tea baskets, bamboo pen holders, bamboo toys, bamboo thermoses, and bamboo charcoal pillows have emerged.
Editor | Zhang Yalin, Ge Yuting, Monica, James
