Bama strives to build healthcare tourism brand

The countyside landscape of Bama Yao autonomous county. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Located in the northwest of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Bama Yao autonomous county in Hechi is known as a "World Longevity City".

Statistics from 2019 show that there are 83 people over the age of 100 living in the county. The proportion of centenarians in Bama also tops global longevity rankings.

The county was rated as one of China's top 100 counties for its potential as a tourism destination, and was listed as one of China's healthcare tourism destinations in 2020.

In an effort to develop the county into a tourism destination, Bama has introduced a series of policies and plans to establish holiday resorts themed on healthcare and longevity.

Bama has also taken steps to improve its environment. For example, the county has increased the forest coverage rate to 77 percent. Local authorities have also organized marathons and festivals to entertain visitors.

Thanks to the improvement of its environment and infrastructure, Bama received 1.87 million tourists in the first quarter of 2021, up 164.73 percent year-on-year, with total tourism consumption recorded at 1.97 billion yuan ($309.22 million), increasing 172.99 percent year-on-year.