For example, the 112 households in Aotou village, located in the park's core area, used to manage a bamboo forest of about 680 hectares, making a living by cutting down bamboo and digging the shoots.

The park's management bureau has applied a new model that transferred management rights for the bamboo to the bureau while allowing the villagers to retain ownership of the forests.

Each resident receives an annual allowance of 1,770 yuan ($253) per hectare to ensure that they won't cut the bamboo down.

The park has been divided into four main functional areas, with about 12 percent of the total area used for residential purposes and the production of bamboo-related products and teas.

The remaining areas are carefully managed to protect rare and endangered animals and plants, and to promote environmental rehabilitation.

Contact the writer at [email protected]