Bamboo (Phyllostachys puberscence) culms with 1, 2, 3 year old were exposed to natural weathering condition in Gwangju, Korea for 12 months. Changes in color, surface topography, strength and chemical properties were investigated using various microscopic and instrumental techniques. After one year’s weathering, the color of bamboo became lighter but strengths of bamboo did not change significantly. Depending upon the age of bamboo culms, the rate of the check development and the surface erosion were different. Numerous checks were developed in the 2 and 3 year old bamboo whereas little checks in the 1 year old bamboo were appeared. Regardless of bamboo age, most of parenchyma cells in the ground tissues were degraded and lignin was rapidly decreased at initial period of weathering, although structural polysaccharides were also degraded by weathering.

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