Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county

The rural landscape of Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county is located in the northeast of Hechi city. Covering an area of 4,572 square kilometers, it is home to 276,076 people.

Among the local population, people from ethnic minority groups such as Maonan and Zhuang account for 94.4 percent. The number from the Maonan minority is 64,994. Huanjiang was where the Maonan group originally settled and is the only Maonan autonomous county in China.

The county is home to a huge variety of tourist attractions and is known for its natural beauty, with a forest coverage rate of 72 percent. Famous attractions such as Niujiaozhai Waterfall Scenic Area, Wenya Tiankeng Group and Mulun National Nature Reserve are located here. In 2014, Guilin and Huanjiang both became World Natural Heritage Sites.

The area is also home to a number of famous specialties, including dishes featuring beef, pork, rice, duck and mushrooms, owning the honor of "China's beef hometown" and the "origin of pork in China".