This book was compiled by researchers of Chinese Academy of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, and Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has been the most comprehensive monograph about the bamboo resources in China until now.

"Illustrated Flora of Bambusoideae in China" is composed of two volumes. Volume 1 contains prefaces written by Shougong Zhang and Dezhu Li and the foreword by the authors,  and 28 chapters, i.e., Morphology of Bamboos, Geographical Distribution of Bambusoideae, Hardiness Zones of Bambusoideae in China, 16 genera of the tribe Bambusese (Bambusa, Bonia, Cephalostachyum, Dendrocalamopsis, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Guadua, Leptocanna, Lingnania, Melocalamus, Melocanna,  Neomicrocalamus, Neosinocalamus, Pseudostachyum, Schizostachyum, Thyrsostachys), and 9 genera of the tribe Arundinarieae (Brachystachyum, Chimonobambusa, Hibanobambusa, Indosasa, Phyllostachys,Qiongzhuea, Semiarundinaria, Shibataea, Sinobambusa). Totally, 512 bamboo taxa are recorded in volume 1, including 4 hybrids, 119 forms, 38 varieties, and 351 species in 25 genera.