"Within just about four hours, these bamboo shoots can be served at the pandas' dining table," Li said.

Dengjiagou's natural conditions make it an ideal place for bamboo to thrive: deep and slightly acidic soil, clean and abundant water from a nearby river, and excellent air quality. The bamboo shoots grown here are naturally tender and flavorful, exactly what giant pandas look for.

Since the planting base was established in 2018, Li has invited agricultural experts from the panda center, universities, and local research institutes to help refine cultivation techniques. After years of careful cultivation and scientific management, the bamboo forest reached peak production and was added to the panda center's procurement list in 2022.