Central-South China · Guangxi
Hechi, located in northwestern Guangxi on the southern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, is renowned as the 'World Capital of Longevity' and the hometown of Liu Sanjie. With spectacular karst landscapes, rich ethnic minority cultures, and fame for Bama longevity, bronze drum culture, and folk song art, Hechi offers low living costs and a pleasant environment, providing international students a unique natural and cultural experience.
Hechi is located in the northwestern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, covering an area of 33,476 km² with a permanent population of 3.31 million. It has a subtropical monsoon climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. With a long history, Hechi is the hometown of the legendary Zhuang folk singer Liu Sanjie and is also known as the 'World Capital of Longevity' – the Bama Yao Autonomous County within Hechi is globally famous for its exceptionally high proportion of centenarians. The local economy is driven by nonferrous metals (tin, antimony, lead-zinc), hydropower, ecotourism, and specialty agriculture, with health and wellness tourism growing rapidly in recent years. In education, Hechi has institutions like Hechi University offering Chinese language and ethnic culture courses for international students. Culturally, the Zhuang, Yao, Mulao, and other ethnic groups maintain vibrant traditions, including bronze drum culture, folk song festivals, and frog festivals. Life here is slow-paced with low costs and clean air, ideal for focused study and nature exploration. International students can experience spectacular karst caves, tiankeng (giant sinkholes) such as those in Leye, visit Bama's longevity villages, and immerse themselves in authentic ethnic lifestyles.
