Bamboo at Cong Hua

Bamboo at Cong Hua on the Pearl River
(Cong Hua Hot Springs, Guangdong Province, China, 1981)
Bamboo has long been a traditional subject for Chinese artists. The bamboo's slim stems are full of tension as they bow under the weight of the leaves. An ideal subject for the artist who strives with a few deft brushstrokes to reproduce the vitality of the scene.

This picture was taken at Cong Hua, a renowned beauty spot in Guangdong Province, famous for its hot springs, flowering plants, and stands of bamboo. It is located just north of the Tropic of Cancer and the journey from Guangzhou takes about two hours by coach.