Bama Yao Autonomous County (abbreviated as Bama) is located in the northwest of Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is a famous longevity town in China and one of the world's recognized longevity towns. Not only is the natural environment here superior, but it is also renowned for its unique geographical location and cultural environment. Friends traveling to Guilin are strongly recommended to visit Bama.
Geographical Location and Natural Environment
Bama is located on the southeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, with mountainous terrain as the main feature. The area is rich in rivers, has a pleasant climate, and belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate. These geographical and climatic conditions provide unique advantages for the development of local agriculture and tourism.
Flights to Major Cities in China: Main Entry Routes: Preferred Nanning Wuxu International Airport Guilin Liangjiang International Airport Liuzhou Bailian Airport Nanning City → Bama: Long-distance bus: Nanning Long-distance Bus Station → Bama (about 6 hours) Guilin City → Bama Long-distance bus: Guilin Bus Station → Bama (about 7 hours)
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Longevity Culture
Bama is widely noted for the longevity of its residents. The proportion of centenarians here is significantly higher than the world average. Scientists have conducted various studies on the longevity phenomenon in Bama, suggesting that the reasons may be related to the local natural environment, dietary habits, social culture, and good psychological state. The diet in Bama is characterized by being natural, low in salt, and low in fat, with residents typically consuming whole grains, beans, and fresh vegetables.
The negative ion content in Bama's air ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 per cubic centimeter, earning it the nickname "natural oxygen bar," while in some longevity villages, the air contains up to 30,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter; however, in general cities, this number is around 1,000 to 2,000. The high forest coverage, river erosion, and high altitude in Bama make the air very fresh and pleasant. Ecological-grade negative ions not only purify the air but also invigorate the spirit, enhance the body's resistance, promote metabolism, eliminate respiratory inflammation, relieve bronchial asthma, and stabilize blood pressure.
Bama has become one of the world's five major longevity villages. The local economy was mainly based on agriculture in the past, but over the past decade, the village has restructured to promote "longevity economy" through tourism and longevity diets. Locals renovate houses to rent to so-called "migratory bird" tourists, improving the economic situation. When asked about the secret to longevity, most centenarians in the village attribute it to simple meals and a diet rich in grains, with a lifestyle of early to bed and early to rise. Perhaps urban dwellers, leaving behind their busy lives, come to the longevity village with hope, absorbing the essence of productivity, and naturally find joy and fulfillment.
Although seeking immortality is impossible, extending life is achievable. In Bama's longevity village, it is common to see people in their nineties. There is an old Red Army soldier, 113 years old, who is lean, energetic, and has excellent memory. He tells stories of the Red Army as if they happened yesterday, and surprisingly, he can read and write without any difficulty, with clear eyesight and steady hands, making everyone envious. Another elderly woman, 104 years old, often washes clothes, cooks, grows vegetables, chops wood, raises chickens, and feeds pigs, handling all kinds of household chores with ease.
Hemp Seed in Guangxi Bama
When Bama residents talk about their longevity secrets, they inevitably mention hemp seed. There is a local saying: "Eat hemp every day, live to ninety-eight." Many experts and scholars, when documenting the longevity diet of Bama's centenarians, often start with hemp.
Hemp seed is a renowned longevity food from the world-famous longevity town of Guangxi Bama and is also a very famous longevity specialty. Hemp grows at the source of the Panyang River Basin, with unique natural conditions, and is made using traditional craftsmanship passed down through generations. It is a delicacy widely consumed by Bama residents, who refer to it as "longevity soup, longevity hemp." Hemp seed, known as "longevity soup," is one of the reasons centenarians maintain health and longevity.
Bama hemp oil is currently the only plant oil in the world that can dissolve in water. Those who have visited Bama's longevity village know that the people here are famous for their love of hemp soup. Bama people love hemp soup just as Koreans love kimchi, and it is almost a daily staple on their dining tables.
Since ancient times, many emperors and kings have sought immortality, but how could there be an elixir of immortality in the world? No matter how noble their status, how superb their skills, or how much manpower, material resources, and financial resources they spent, no one has ever been able to create an elixir of immortality. Ordinary people also do not have the skills of Sun Wukong to steal the elixir from the furnace of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, the ultimate fate of everyone is the same, which is to move towards death.
Bama Yao Autonomous County is known as the "land of longevity." Besides tourists coming to seek magical elixirs, "Bama Living Springs," and health secrets from centenarians, it also attracts a large number of "migratory bird" visitors every year for short stays. Here, people with chronic illnesses gather in this longevity town for healing, and many feel revitalized and as if their lives have been extended when they leave. Is there some magical power in this place?
It turns out that locals lie in caves for magnetic therapy and drink mountain spring water for health, and many live to be a hundred years old. It may be that the water and air have mysterious properties that can heal chronic diseases. Bama County has a large limestone cave called "Baimo Cave," with a giant stalactite column inside that has been studied for millions of years of geological changes. Under colorful lights, the stalactite column presents a mysterious region. Experts have studied the geomagnetic effects inside Baimo Cave and the air rich in negative oxygen ions, which invigorate those who inhale it. Inside the cave, there is a "magnetic therapy area" for rest, while outside, the vegetation is dense, containing an "oxygen absorption area" where people exercise and breathe fresh air deeply. Residents introduce that the local water is weakly alkaline and rich in nutrients, making it very suitable for health maintenance.
Letting Go of Desires
As a result, many people have shifted their research focus from the unverifiable "Bama therapy" to the tangible "Bama mindset." "Migratory bird people" are determined to emulate it. "If it weren't for an unexpected encounter with cancer, who would want to try such a bland life in Bama?" said Sister Ma, a 60-year-old ovarian cancer patient and executive of a major domestic insurance company in Southwest China. After six rounds of chemotherapy, the tumor shrank, and finally, there was an indication for surgery. She underwent surgery again at Shanghai Cancer Hospital, and the pathology showed highly malignant poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. After surgery, there were five more rounds of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy liquids, which could corrode the floor if dripped, not only turned her nails black and made her blood vessels as hard as plastic tubes but also caused significant self-damage. When she completed mainstream treatment, three months later, a follow-up examination showed that the tumor was not controlled but had metastasized to the spleen and some lymph nodes. Along with this bad news, her fellow patient, who had sworn it was her last chemotherapy, passed away forever. Stimulated by this, Sister Ma paused chemotherapy. She also came to Bama to give it a try. For half a year, the peaceful mountain life led her to realize: "Cancer cells are not here to take your life but to make you let go of desires." A small incident had a significant impact on her.
One day, she went to a Bama resident's kitchen and found only oil, salt, and soy sauce, with no fourth seasoning. A Bama girl jokingly said, "A five-star hotel chef would probably cry here." This sentence shocked Sister Ma: If Bama people can lower their desires for food so much, what else can't they let go of? Reflecting on herself, she realized that despite her high position in the company, respected by everyone, she always had a knot in her heart. "For more than ten years in the leadership team, I was always the second in command, with leaders above and employees below. Even if the leader's opinion was incorrect, I had to follow it, and I had to constantly guide and explain to the employees below. My personality determined that I was not cut out for 'muddling through.'" Additionally, the company had a daily fund flow of 200 million yuan, and there had never been a mistake under her watch, so the long-term pressure was imaginable. She focused her attention on fetching water on time and climbing mountains on time, marking the market days on the calendar: today is the Poyue Village market, tomorrow is the Bama County market, and the day after tomorrow is the Jiazhuan Township market, with a three-day cycle. These activities have a common characteristic: they require perseverance but do not require thinking, and they are unrelated to scheming or intrigue. Now, her hair, which had fallen out due to chemotherapy, is gradually growing back, and she feels an unprecedented surge of energy. She tries not to think about follow-up examinations, saying, "Self-perception is the best indicator; no one knows you better than yourself."
