In 1935, the Central Red Army crossed the Chishui River four times during the Long March. Today, Chishui City in southwest China's Guizhou Province, known as the "hometown of bamboo," has 1.328 million mu (about 88,500 hectares) of bamboo forests. Local bamboo is sliced, ground and molded into tableware and a wide range of other products. As China promotes the use of bamboo as an alternative to plastic, this renewable and biodegradable material is being used in an increasingly wide range of everyday products. Chishui is now home to more than 200 bamboo enterprises. In 2025, the local bamboo industry generated more than 10 billion yuan (about $1.44 billion) in total output value, helping 165,000 local bamboo growers increase their incomes. From its Long March legacy to the green growth of its bamboo industry, Chishui is embracing new development while preserving its history.