A scientific report released recently says that the number of bamboo species in Anji Bamboo Growing Garden has reached 288, signifying that Anji has become China's largest bamboo growing garden in terms of the growing area and the number of bamboo species.

Covering an area of more than 600 mu, or 40 hectares, Anji Bamboo Growing Garden has introduced new bamboo species from Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangsu, Henan and Fujian provinces over the past two decades besides cultivating its own bamboo species and has established relationship on exchanging bamboo seeds with such countries as India and Thailand, which as a result, helps diversifies the species of the bamboo growing garden and greatly increase the scientific and research value of the garden.

Over the past five years, the bamboo park has attracted a dozen groups of experts from such countries as Germany and Japan to conduct investigation and scientific research in the park.

"With a variety of bamboo species, Anji has actually become the largest bamboo growing and research base in Asia," said an official with Anji County Government, " the bamboo museum which has been completed recently can not only satisfy the demand of systematical research, but also provide knowledge on the history and culture of bamboo growing and bamboo arts and crafts for an increasing number of tourists."

(www.cnzj.org.cn 08/06/2001)