The hidden bamboo village drawing visitors to Kulai

KULAI: Tucked among oil palm plantations near Felda Taib Andak is a place where bamboo takes centre stage.

Putuo Village, located in this quiet corner of Johor, is home to a Buddhist temple and an 8-ha bamboo garden filled with sculptures, structures and art installations inspired by the versatile plant.

Despite attracting about 500,000 visitors annually, many Malaysians are only now discovering the attraction.

“It’s a hidden gem,” said Lee Yoke Lai, head of the department of landscape architecture at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Although she works nearby and researches bamboo as a nature-based solution, Lee only learnt about Putuo Village a few years ago after her sister visited.

Named after Mount Putuo, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China, the village is closely associated with Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.

Putuo Village staff member Chew Ah Wei said the temple is dedicated to Guanyin, who is often linked to bamboo in Chinese Buddhist tradition. “Bamboo is considered part of her natural surroundings,” he told Bernama.

That connection is reflected throughout the village, where bamboo features in everything from decorative structures and garden installations to some of the food offerings.

During Wesak Day recently, the temple was packed with devotees offering prayers and seeking blessings. One of its most eye-catching features was a giant dragon sculpture crafted almost entirely from bamboo by Malaysian and Indonesian artists.

With its raised head, flowing whiskers and open jaws, the dragon towered above worshippers, showcasing the craftsmanship behind the attraction’s bamboo-themed identity.

“Bamboo symbolises many positive values, including prosperity, success, good health and resilience,” Chew said, adding that, in Buddhist tradition, bamboo represents resilience, flexibility and enlightenment.

Nearby stands a wishing tree covered in red ribbons, where visitors leave prayers and hopes.

A short walk from the temple leads to the bamboo garden via a pathway lined with Buddhist symbols and Confucian sayings.

Designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and backgrounds, the garden places greater emphasis on culture and nature than religion.

“If we focus only on Buddhism, then only Buddhists will come,” Chew noted.

Inside, bamboo-lined paths wind through a variety of installations, including a winged horse sculpture, giant pinwheel fans, decorative handscrolls and a towering bamboo umbrella.

One of the most popular attractions is “Fish in the Clouds”, where colourful koi appear to swim through a sea of clouds, symbolising abundance, prosperity and the freedom to pursue one’s aspirations.

With bamboo growing thickly along the pathways, parts of the garden evoke the feeling of stepping into a landscape inspired by China.

Indeed, for many visitors, the attraction’s greatest appeal is its sense of calm.

“I personally prefer this kind of environment. It’s like stress relief,” said Vimala Selvaraj, who visited with her husband and two children during the long weekend after discovering Putuo Village through Google.

Beyond its cultural appeal, the bamboo garden serves an environmental purpose: the plant is valued as a carbon sink and nature-based solution.

Lee said Putuo Village demonstrates how culture and green infrastructure can complement each other.

“I want to credit Putuo Village with how they integrated a bamboo forest to create a nature getaway with culture. I think it’s a good combination,” she said.

As Kulai continues to attract investment and development, particularly in data centres, Lee believes spaces such as Putuo Village can help maintain a balance between growth and greenery.

She hopes more green infrastructure, including bamboo forests and native tree planting, will be introduced as the district develops.

“We don’t want to see a very concrete Kulai in the future,” she concluded.