Bamboo scaffolding: why Hong Kong is among the last cities using centuries-old building method

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Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city on Earth, but local builders rely on a uniquely anachronistic building technique - bamboo scaffolding - to construct even the highest of high-rises. Why is Hong Kong one of the last cities still using the centuries-old method and what makes bamboo such an ideal material for scaffolding?
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[@alizakimurtaza1134]

Bamboo scaffolding is still used often in my hometown Karachi, Pakistan. Since we are a relatively poor country, bamboo is very cost effective hence its commonality.

[@johnsmith1474]

You don't know the cost figures.

[@ManabDasiammanab]

In India too. But they are mostly used in smaller buildings.

[@phurbaphurbalama3135]

Bamboo scaffolding is almost used in all south Asian countries but it is used for constructing relatively smaller buildings and different counties around the world but in hongkong it's even in use for constructing high skyscrapers.

[@KANGZZZ.]

Same in India

[@spacecraft8498]

Dame for bangladesh

[@iloveplayingpr]

I don't think they'll ever go away due to the fact that their an easy and cheap alternative to steel. Especially for smaller projects.

[@humanperson8418]

They're not used anywhere else. Bamboo scaffolding is already gone.

[@Zones33]

and most climate friendly

[@sdqsdq6274]

cheap yeah but how many bamboo need to chop when steel last forever

[@kakomagic]

@@sdqsdq6274 you realize bamboo belongs to "grass" family right? it grows rapidly, thus making it way more sustainable than steel

[@BlueRidgeBubble]

@@kakomagic Nooooo You just have to get your steel from the sea of blades Iron razors jutting from parched earth

[@o0...957]

We still use it in India too I believe. They used it while building the home I live in. I used to climb on top of those bamboo scaffolding, it was quite exciting and there was a nice breeze on the top during Summers.

[@michael-qt3er]

yep it's normal everywhere in low rise building, but not like hongkong though, they use it for skyscraper.

[@pulkitjb]

Absolutely fact check

[@jerobyarts5654]

Not in my state we use steel now with connectable pipes

[@Superpooper-2020]

90% 0f us Inddians d0nt have acess t0 t0ilet

[@o0...957]

@@Superpooper-2020 The heck are you on about? Are you a troll? Is that why you decided to reverse the statistics? As soon as you see an Indian comment you pretend to be one and make fun of it.

[@frankm7707]

Bamboo is the carbon fiber equivalent of such building materials. It is greener than anything and 100% recyclable.

[@Felicia594]

And it doesn’t stop growing!!

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@@Felicia594 so much could be made from bamboo but just isnt. Best case is outdoor food. Bamboo forks and knives are awesome. Even the straws made from bamboo fiber are great.

[@KitKitChanIsaac]

@@Felicia594 Unless it gets chopped off

[@nulnoh219]

It kind of is Carbon Fiber. It is Carbon, fibrous, and tubular.

[@KitKitChanIsaac]

@@nulnoh219 Therefore it's living carbon fiber.

[@HaydenLau.]

Seeing bamboo scaffolding brings a smile to my face. It's been a mainstay in my childhood and even though I've since moved to another country, bamboo scaffolding still holds a special place in my heart

[@JL_hahaha0303]

It's something that we grew up seeing and didn't realize how special it is until we're not home anymore :) It brings a smile to my face as well when watching how special this technique is and how they're admirably done on skyscrapers.

[@ethanloming001]

"Don't worry, chinese bamboo is very strong." -Jackie Chan 😂😂

[@monsesh1316]

Unfortunately the rope isnt as strong

[@JoSh-op6gu]

But the duct tape, does not.

[@RetiredPikachu007]

Yooooooooooo... I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT!!!

[@revinhatol]

_"This place is worse than Omashu!"_ - Cabbage Merchant

[@andacomfeeuvou]

Here in Brazil the use of bamboo in construction is recent - it is not traditional - but it has increased a lot in recent decades. There are currently many courses on bamboo construction techniques.

[@andacomfeeuvou]

@@dartvader2353 Sim, é mais o pessoal alternativo, ecologista, esotérico quem está promovendo a utilização do bambu aqui no Brasil. Existem muitos cursos se você procurar na net, mas ainda é muito pouco. Mas no ritmo em que estamos destruindo nossas matas e exportando nossas madeiras, em breve só vai restar bambu para ser usado. Não acredito que o bambu venha a ser utilizado no Brasil para a construção de andaimes (como mostrado no vídeo) mas à medida em que o preço das madeiras nobres tem aumentado também aumenta o interesse pelo bambu em aplicações estruturais e como madeira para diversas aplicações como revestimento e decoração.

[@DemonetisedZone]

That is a disgrace

[@MultiBear]

While most countries got rid of or is phasing it out, Brazil is newly adopting this method? Thats interesting.

[@naveenmanjhi5776]

India 🇮🇳, is one of the last too. I've seen construction companies using bamboos till date. ❤️ One of the top reasons to keep using this method is they are environment friendly, used bamboos can also be used to make other furnitures.

[@joewymn1232]

no its because your country is 3rd world

[@jameschristophercirujano6650]

The difference is that Hongkong does it on their Skyscrapers, most of Asia still do use bamboo on low-rise structures.

[@naveenmanjhi5776]

@@jameschristophercirujano6650 you're right.

[@leolow2057]

No, the top reason is because the cost is lower. Environmental friendly is just the word to mask high risk and can't afford. Does environmental friendly more important than the workers life?

[@millennials8340]

@@leolow2057 environmental friendly? Proud indians try to cover countries poverty

[@4june9140]

When I first went to live in HK I found the Bamboo Scaffolding fascinating, especially when they came to prepare the little building I was living in for renovation. It was just one of many reasons I grew to love the city.

[@Zenit_Bourg]

For low scale construction, bamboo remains the go to choice for construction in Asia. But for large scale, not only the concern of safety but also efficiency since tying up thousands of bamboo stalks require lots of time and effort. I wish we could see bamboo equivalent of processed timber like CLT and GluLam because bamboo is really sustainable material.

[@AjiRahman]

here in Indonesia, some places still using bamboo for scaffolding, but not for skyscrapers.

[@pamelagarlito7149]

Of course u can't, those bamboo plants will cried for baldness

[@feline3462]

Fantastic bamboo. Such a magnificent plant. I love everything that was made from bamboo.

[@hokayeung007]

That is why Hong Kong old buildings (ie Tung Lau) are kept and maintained very well... Salute to the hard-working workers!

[@hyphen2612]

It used to be a prevalent building method in Taiwan when I was a kid. But we shifted to metal scaffolding over the years due to safety regulations. I think the reason for the phase-out was that cultivated organic material like bamboo is much harder to get consistent quality assurance compared to manufactured metal scaffolds.

[@bruceyung70]

There are road bike using bamboo instead of fiber glass. It’s very strong and light.

[@victoriaregina8344]

Stop lying!!!!!! As a proud American i have never seen one before!

[@nguyenminh7780]

@@victoriaregina8344 comes to show how narrow sighted such “proud” Americans are

[@nazbmn242]

@@nguyenminh7780 i think that guy’s still a kid

[@insertsomethingfuni2617]

@@nazbmn242 shhhh, we're about to watch an American discover other countries exist

[@godofnothing520]

@@nguyenminh7780 Bruh i'm sure it's sarcasm.

[@joaoantonio1279]

it’s not just in Hong Kong, also in Macau!, a lot of building constructions here in Macau still use bamboo scaffolding..

[@Superpooper-2020]

Shenzhen has m0re skyscrapers than newy0rk

[@krollpeter]

Here in Singapore, too. But it's not cost savings. It's because some companies employ workers that are used to work with bamboo scaffolding.

[@briannn1082]

Ya, I do see them a lot here too, especially now that it seems like the constructions never end.

[@VashtheStampede007]

It’s common in all of China.

[@Jehty_]

I love it when videos don't answer the question they raised in the title.....

[@ethanhsu2630]

as a person who lives in hong kong, i can say that they sometimes build bamboo scaffolding on high levels without the bamboo reaching the floor

[@ibrahims1738]

I'm the bamboo seller in India and here bamboo is used for construction purposes as well as interior decorations

[@VirginiaPalette]

This is a very well made and informative video, love the illustration and how every step is explained. I think HK will still use it cause this is the safest tool when there is typhoon coming up, and we all know that HK is very prone to typhoon for a long period of time per year. But there would be probably a decline in bamboo scaffolders if the pay isn’t high and the job risky… I remember when I was in Hong Kong, I was filming these scaffolders and one of them told me why would I film them? And that this is nothing special nor beautiful to see. I so disagree with him, cause this is a work of art. Not only, HK is among the last if not the last to still practice this, but this is also extremely impressive to see the scaffolders climbing up so fast and executing the work with so much strength and precision, without scare of height. Anyway, thanks SMCP for this video and making us appreciate these workers and this scraftmanship even more.

[@anonymousmonkey9491]

the person who got crushed by a loose section of bamboo scaffolding falling down on her two typhoons ago wouldn't quite agree though... XP

[@jonpaul3868]

Bamboo scaffolding is iconic and immortalised in the Jackie Chan movie.

[@stevenlin1738]

I remember seeing Bamboo scaffolding in Shanghai (and every other Chinese city I went to) all the time in the past few years. Didn't know they are less common now.

[@VashtheStampede007]

Because of a fire accident in shanghai which killed over 40 people. The sparks from unlicensed wielders lighted up the flammable nets on the bamboos, and the fire spread because of the bamboos.

[@shahadat137]

Not only in Hong Kong but it is also pretty much of a usual scene for the people of Bangladesh to see bamboo scaffolding

[@ivangim1]

The answer is straight and simple: Cheap. Light. Durable. Cost-effective.

[@abdulrahmanpuasa9485]

Pls Ive been looking for this for a long time and finally I found u!! You're literally a life saver. It kinda took a while to download but it still worked.

[@kamalsidhu7454]

In south asian countries bamboo scaffolding is quite common from building houses to building skyscrapers I'm amazed to see you people getting surprised with this method

[@ahanafalam3]

same in BD ;) 🇧🇩

[@Hannan_1325]

Well, we still use bamboo scaffolding in India. Not for high rise but for normal buildings about 3 or 4 floors tall.

[@dgmojojojo]

I still see bamboo scaffolding here in Indonesia albeit not often, only once in awhile. My guess is old constructors still use bamboo and new one with their steel, they coexist.

[@otawi8522]

Bamboo is strong, but the weakest link: thin plastc straps that tie it together - not so much.

[@KurniawanRamadhan213]

The crucial flaw of using bamboo scafold is durability. It can't stand months long construction and the joint that connects it. The only reason they use it because it's cheap af.

[@Anonymous-jj9yu]

I agree steel is better

[@Naga19-p3w]

They use jute fibre ropes

[@NinjapowerMS]

@@KurniawanRamadhan213 That sounds sketch trusting my life on those poles lol

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@@KurniawanRamadhan213 yeah seeing this to built skyscrapers is a pain to watch. Having a bunch of people just for checking and maintaining and rebuilding it all the time while other groups do their construction. Guess in the long run its just cheaper buying steel

[@yaykiller123]

This is the best free software Ive seen. Respect.

[@TheNeodagon]

I have live in Shanghai before. Bamboo scaffolding is all over the city

[@john5778]

It is still pretty common in the Philippines, like every construction you can see it except for the tall buildings

[@reynaldolazaro2196]

Bamboo is strong and pliant and used by many Asian countries, don’t belittle bamboo.

[@tomasp1988]

I’ve see it in mainland china and India. But in HK it’s everywhere. Its so great to see it

[@EmilyW.isawakenotwoke]

I have visited going Kong many times . I love it.. the scaffolding always amazes me.. the way the workers scale that scaffold, especially when they are building it, it a very heart-in-mouth experience for onlookers. 😱😁🌸❤️🌼♥️

[@guzilayerken5013]

In fact Bamboo scaffolding is still very common in China, although large building contractors do not use Bamboo scaffolding because they need standardization and efficiency, while some private construction houses, for example if you hire a small construction team to build a house for yourself, many still use Bamboo scaffolding because they are cheap and recyclable.

[@antmanhill]

We in India have been using this system for thousands of years and still using it.

[@bobbyjames235]

No toilets in India.

[@helloworld9996]

we have as well used this for thousands of years, sadly mainland decided to switch to metal bars which is also more heavy and worse for transportation

[@bobbyjames235]

@@helloworld9996 No toilets in mainland China

[@leolow2057]

@@helloworld9996 so indians life and safety is not important?

[@helloworld9996]

@@leolow2057 how did that conclution come from?

[@beninchina]

Bamboo looks cool!

[@thenbaplayer9485]

Actually it’s being used everywhere in South Asia so it’s actually used by more 1,5mbillion people so calling it last in Hong Kong is pretty wild.

[@castorchua]

Yeah, but they use it for skyscrapers

[@lucianolizana446]

The ilustrations are really pretty

[@tsechee]

nicely animated and explanation thank you

[@bikeshthapa7309]

Its used widely in nepal for construction

[@revinhatol]

Kawayan (Filipino) Buluh (Malay) Bambu (Indonesian)

[@JupiterVortex]

Bamboo and wood is still used for almost every single scaffolding here in Indonesia

[@Maniacguy2777]

Over here in Kerala they also use Bamboo for scaffolding.

[@jaderabbit1267]

I really miss looking at the bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong

[@dghffjfd]

This technique is prevailing in India since time immemorial 🙏❤️

[@DanielHYNg]

I still see bamboo scaffolding in the outskirt but not Jakarta, Indonesia. Maybe in the future, bamboo usage could be upgraded and diversify into better usage.

[@Stop4MotionMakr]

Please make a video about the green mesh they put over the bamboo scaffolding.

[@Uaiaoahq]

AS AN ENGINEER I AGREE WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

[@jrosse12]

"Engineer" sure bro

[@burnout4819]

@@jrosse12 dude shut it if you think know better method of it

[@degenerate2912]

I am bamboozled that this works.

[@alexander1989x]

I remember seeing it in Hong Kong. I haven't given it much thought but thinking about it now, it's kinnda nuts how a modern city uses such "unsafe?" building methods

[@xgteenterritory]

Coz it’s simply safe!

[@castorchua]

@@xgteenterritory Actually safer in a place with constant typhoons - it's lighter and has some give.

[@Jiggabyte_Alpha]

I think they do this in the Philippines, but mostly in small-scale residential projects outside big cities.

[@hernanbalderas8417]

Wish everyone a joyful and happy day!

[@jerryjayduff2643]

Your lesson helped a lot, after that i wrote my first lody. Thank you very much.

[@taitaiyu3739]

I thought this was for the whole world! Now I know😊

[@HappiKarafuru]

In General, kept the old tradition alive. It the legacy of their culture, their people, generation after generation.

[@Greeeyt]

appreciated my bamboo scaffolding blocks in Minecraft even more :>

[@Meroro-main]

Here in Indonesia, we still used bamboo scafolding as well for smaller buildings

[@MidAsHun]

Appreciate the animation.

[@samuraioodon]

Even Jackie Chan said bamboo is very strong in rush hour 🤣

[@aleffush]

Thanks! This is the question i always ask myself all this while...

[@srafid2000]

Here in Bangladesh, some buildings have bomboos inside the concrete beam instead of steel bars.

[@pstw4890]

WELL.. you can see in my country INDONESIA which still used BAMBOO and other Round Wood Stick ( we called DOLKEN wood ) for scaffolding... so I think there are a bunch country around Asia still using the same techniques like Hongkong

[@ggchiu7400]

Oh I didn’t realise it was a “few place” specific thing. I live in HK, I’m so used to it, I don’t even bat an eye. Now that I think of it, yea all the places outside of HK I’ve been in, I’ve never seen bamboo scaffolding. Huh. Cool

[@apex9806]

It's used everywhere in Pakistan, where I live. A house under-construction in front of mine is using it right now. I'm pretty sure it's used widely in India and Afghanistan too.

[@svanimation8969]

Yeah for small building and houses we still use it It's not just here but while South Asia 😂 use it mostly middle class nations use it it's cheap and effective

[@ArchOfWinter]

If someone managed to invent a knot gun of sort to tide the knots, it might help streamline the training process and time required on the job, attracting more people to the field.

[@mansip0813]

It's also being used in big cities like Mumbai in india

[@yami7271]

its so strong that it can hold shang-chi fight.

[@Witchworkanimations]

lol 😆

[@solofjh]

The video didn't answer the question it starts to enquire, it just provided pros and cons.. I was waiting

[@chaconneind3777]

Bamboo-best plant in the world. Change my mind.

[@camiemengineer]

BAMBOO SUPER ENGINEERING MATERIAL WITHSTOOD THE PACE OF TIME!

[@navalgriffin9922]

This is a very interesting one. I wish they can do that in Manila for once

[@jkardez4794]

Chris Tucker changes his mind about climbing the bamboo scaffolding after one of the henchmen fall from above, and decides to take the stairs. " Rush hour "

[@AmitMishra-xr8wr]

Not only hongkong even now in my village in bihar (india )it is still used..

[@clementechs]

In sri lanka we also mostly used these in centuries

[@youriigar6028]

To answer your question, noo its not stronger then steel however its cheaper then steel

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

this was a great video

[@ulysseslee9541]

Building / maintenance a 50-floor apartment block still using bamboo Scaffolding

[@ghiyzt]

Here in Indonesia, we still use bamboo as well.

[@bryant.3109]

Now I know why my past elementary teacher prefer to use bamboo stick to slap our hands everytime someone gets question wrong...

[@eirosgame8701]

It’s cheap and reliable and found in local area.So we will see them after 10 years also.

[@canto_v12]

I wonder if the traditional supply chain makes bamboo cheap. Once labour and farmland costs rise to a certain point as it has been doing in mainland China for the past few decades, perhaps steel (which is far more reusable) scaffolding will finally take hold in Hong Kong. The fact that bamboo can only be safely reused 3 times is telling of an obvious cost efficiency ceiling.

[@krishnatirunagari5392]

Send these sophisticated bamboo scaffolding to India we need that for construction here.

[@olorenzo3763]

I took two months to learn Adobe After Effects and Premier Pro. Now I am learning soft soft to make soft so I can have more verity

[@bvrbvt05]

Bamboo is light, durable, and cheap.

[@paulgeorge7639]

I love bamboo

[@dannykwok9]

It is more easy to build and save time. The steel one can't replace the bamboo for sure.

[@minglin2814]

And as many legends has said it, "Chinese bamboo is very strong"

[@freeguy2007]

i get that reference. LOL..*breaks*

[@9.1416]

Bamboo scaffolding is still prominent in India.

[@neko7337]

yours is perfect. These are going to takes loads of ti off the learning process.

[@snyez]

We still use bamboo scaffolding in Nepal.

[@anuragchoubey]

South China Morning Post: Hong Kong is the last city to use Bamboo, Indian builders : Hold my beer

[@thtupid]

Fantastic piece! Thank you!

[@anilpun2592]

WE STILL USE THE BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING HERE IN NEPAL.

[@Infin8cosmo]

Also the perfect place for the ubiquitous martial arts fight in a HK action flick.

[@alfredawomi2340]

If Bamboos are used properly than its far better than the latters.

[@linslins4860]

In the Philippines is not only use as Scaffolding, its also use to Sing in a Rock band. Search for it...

[@gangeshjha9349]

Bamboo scaffolding has been in use for centuries….in India…😀👍

[@internationaldirector2917]

Where are they getting bamboo materials? I also noticed in HK building under construction is covered with a colored sacks or plastic used for baggage.