日本京都荒山竹林步道 Footpath in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto, Japan (© Razvan Ciuca/Getty Images)

日本京都荒山竹林步道 Footpath in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto, Japan (© Razvan Ciuca/Getty Images)

A grove glows green 小树林泛着绿色

arashiyama bamboo forest

One of the most photographed places in Japan is this otherworldly grove of towering bamboo. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in the outskirts of Kyoto is surrounded by temples and shrines along the Katsura River, rising as a manicured oasis of stories-high bamboo that seems to turn the world green. The former villas and temples of the old noble class are located near the Arashiyama Grove, and its single 500-yard path is usually filled with visitors wielding cameras and selfie sticks, making this serene view a rare one.

World Bamboo Day, celebrated September 18, was created in 2009 to bring attention to this useful and versatile plant that flourishes in East Asia. Though the tallest bamboo can grow up to 100 feet, bamboo is not a tree but a grass. Known for its light weight, strength, and rapid growth, bamboo can be used to make almost anything, from clothing to building materials—and its shoots can even be consumed as food. Because it grows as much as 3 feet in a day, it's a highly renewable resource. Though for the same reason, it's also an invasive species in some places, as a small stand of bamboo can quickly become a large one. While bamboo grows best in tropical and warm climates, it adapts well to cool temperatures and high altitudes. And though it might have the most cultural value in Asia, it grows wild in Africa, the Americas, and Australia, too. Could there be bamboo growing near you?

阿拉善竹林

在日本，摄影最多的地方之一是这片超凡脱俗的竹林。京都市郊的荒山竹林被桂树河沿岸的寺庙和神龛所环绕，像一片修剪整齐的绿洲，层层高高的竹子似乎让世界变绿了。昔日贵族阶层的别墅和寺庙位于荒山林区附近，其单条500码长的小径通常挤满了挥舞着相机和自拍棒的游客，这使得这一宁静的景色变得罕见。

2009年9月18日是世界竹节，旨在引起人们对这种在东亚盛产的有用且多功能的植物的关注。虽然最高的竹子可以长到100英尺高，但竹子不是树，而是草。竹子以其重量轻、强度大、生长迅速而闻名，几乎可以用来制造任何东西，从服装到建筑材料，竹笋甚至可以作为食物食用。因为它一天长3英尺，是一种高度可再生的资源。尽管出于同样的原因，它在某些地方也是一种入侵物种，因为一小块竹子很快就会变成一大块。虽然竹子在热带和温暖气候中生长最好，但它能很好地适应凉爽的温度和高海拔。虽然它可能在亚洲具有最重要的文化价值，但它在非洲、美洲和澳大利亚也很野生。你附近有竹子吗？