Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, abbreviated as “Gui”, is a provincial-level administrative region in southern China, with Nanning as its capital. It borders the Beibu Gulf to the south, Guangdong to the east, Hunan to the north, Guizhou to the northwest, Yunnan to the west, and Vietnam to the southwest. As of April 2024, Guangxi governs 14 prefecture-level cities, including 10 county-level cities, 60 counties (including 12 ethnic autonomous counties), and 41 municipal districts. It has 138 subdistricts, 806 towns, and 312 townships (including 59 ethnic townships). Besides Mandarin Chinese, four major dialects are widely spoken in Guangxi: Baihua (Cantonese), Guiliu dialect, Hakka, and Pinghua. Among the 12 indigenous ethnic groups, all use their own languages except the Hui people, who speak Chinese.
Origin of the Name “Guangxi”
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Lingnan was part of the Baiyue territories, and Guangxi was a component of Baiyue. The Book of Han ยท Geography Records, an official historical document, states: “From Jiaozhi to Kuaiji, over seven or eight thousand li, the Baiyue peoples lived in mixed communities.”
In 214 BC, the Qin Dynasty conquered Baiyue and established three commanderies in Lingnan: Guilin, Nanhai, and Xiang. Most of present-day Guangxi fell under Guilin and Xiang commanderies, hence the abbreviation “Gui”. The name “Guangxi” has two origins:
In the 3rd year of the Xiantong reign (862 AD), Lingnan Circuit was divided into East and West circuits. The Yongguan Economic Strategist became the Military Commissioner of Lingnan West Circuit, forming an independent administrative region. In the Song Dynasty, an administrative unit named "Guangnan West Circuit" was established, later abbreviated as "Guangxi Circuit".
It derives from the ancient place name "Guangxin". Guangdong and Guangxi were divided by Guangxin: areas east of Guangxin were called Guangdong, and areas west were called Guangxi.Geography and Climate
Guangxi is located on the southeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the western part of the Liangguang Hills. It features a mountainous and hilly basin landform, characterized by intermingled basins of varying sizes, arc-shaped mountain systems nested layer upon layer, and crisscrossing hills. The landforms are categorized into four types: mountains, hills, plains, and terraces. Renowned for its karst and Danxia landforms, it is known as the “Guangxi Basin”. Situated at low latitudes, Guangxi has a subtropical monsoon climate.
History
Primitive humans inhabited present-day Guangxi as early as 800,000 years ago. In 214 BC, the region was incorporated into the territory of the central dynasty, falling under Guilin and Xiang commanderies. Hepu Commandery in the Han Dynasty was one of the starting ports of the “Maritime Silk Road”. In 1363 AD, Guangxi Province was established, marking the beginning of provincial governance in Guangxi. The People’s Government of Guangxi Province was founded in Nanning in February 1950, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was established in March 1958.
Culture and Regional Advantages
The indigenous culture of Guangxi is the Bagui Culture, an integral part of Lingnan Culture. Scholars in Guangdong regard Wuzhou in Guangxi as one of the birthplaces of Lingnan Culture. Centered on Guangxi’s ethnic cultures, Bagui Culture is marked by the harmonious unity of locality and inclusiveness, with distinct southern landscape characteristics. It is an outstanding regional traditional culture with strong regional identity and significant influence. Influenced by the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Bagui Culture also embodies the open and inclusive features of marine culture.
Guangxi boasts unique landscape represented by Guilin’s mountains and waters, and coastal scenery typified by Beihai Silver Beach. As the most convenient maritime outlet in Southwest China and a junction between resource-based economies in western China and open economies in the southeast, Guangxi holds an important position in economic exchanges between China and Southeast Asia. The six cities of the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration serve as key hubs of the Maritime Silk Road, occupying a unique position in the Western Development Strategy and the national opening-up landscape.
Transportation
By June 2024, Guangxi has basically formed a modern three-dimensional transportation pattern featuring river-sea linkage, sea-rail combined transport, simultaneous water and land development, and airport connectivity, enabling rapid and convenient access to rivers and seas in western China. As of July 2024, Guangxi has 8 major civil airports in operation: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Beihai, Hechi, Baise, and Yulin. Among them, Nanning Wuxu International Airport is a vital aviation hub for Guangxi’s cooperation and exchanges with ASEAN countries.
In 2023, Guangxi’s high-speed rail operating mileage ranked among the top 10 in China, achieving high-speed rail connectivity between all prefecture-level cities. Bullet trains within the region offer “same-day arrival” services to 20 provinces. By the end of 2023, Guangxi’s expressway mileage ranked 4th nationwide, with expressways connecting all counties. As of June 2024, 36 expressway passages connecting to other provinces, the sea, and neighboring countries have been completed.
Located at the junction of South China, Southwest China, and the ASEAN Economic Circle, Beibu Gulf Port is the closest maritime outlet for western China and the nearest Chinese port to the Strait of Malacca. It comprises Fangcheng Port, Beihai Port, and Qinzhou Port, with trade links to over 250 ports in more than 100 countries and regions.
Natural and Cultural Heritage
By September 2022, Guangxi is home to 23 national nature reserves, ranking 6th in China. Notable ones include the Hepu Dugong National Nature Reserve (China’s only reserve named after dugongs), the Huaping National Nature Reserve (protecting Cathaya argyrophylla and mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests), and the Chongzuo White-headed Langur National Nature Reserve (focusing on protecting the world’s endangered, first-class national protected animal white-headed langur and its karst forest ecosystem). By October 2022, Guangxi has established 223 nature reserves, including 78 nature reserves and 145 natural parks.
The Li River in Guilin and Mulun in Huanjiang are inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List as part of “South China Karst”. Guangxi’s Mao’er Mountain National Nature Reserve and Shankou Mangrove National Nature Reserve are also listed as World Biosphere Reserves.
By the end of 2024, Guangxi has 124 cultural centers, 124 museums, and 17 state-owned art performance troupes. A total of 70 items are included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and 1,115 items in the autonomous regional list. Key national cultural relics include Wumantan Fubo Temple, Batuan Bridge, Chengyang Yongji Bridge (one of the world’s four famous historical bridges), Mapang Drum Tower, the Site of the Kunlun Pass Battle, and Lingqu Canal. Traditional villages are distributed in Nanning, Guilin, Liuzhou, Guigang, and Qinzhou.
Sports and Events
By the end of 2023, Guangxi has 203,576 sports venues. Major sports centers include Guangxi Sports Center, Guilin Sports Center, Guigang Sports Center, and Liuzhou Sports Center. The region has hosted numerous events, such as the opening ceremony of the National Student (Youth) Games, Green City Music Festival, UWG World Youth Games China Finals, “Meet Classics ยท Dreams Ignite” Guilin Star Concert, WSE Athletics Open โ Guilin Station, “Golden Lotus Cup” Four-Nation Football Tournament, “Hong Kong People ยท Hong Kong Night Season 2: Rebuild the Peak” Concert, 2023 China Football Association League Division Two (Liuzhou Division), and the 2024 “Liquan 1998 Cup” Liuzhou Third Seven-a-Side Football Championship.
Tourism Resources
As an ethnic autonomous region with coastal and border advantages, Guangxi boasts superior geographical location and rich tourism resources. It features landscape culture dominated by natural scenery, such as Guilin’s mountains and waters, karst landforms, and Danxia landforms; marine culture centered on coastal customs; ethnic and folk culture highlighted by the cuisine, costumes, and traditions of the Yao, Miao, and Dong ethnic groups. Since the China-ASEAN Expo settled in Nanning, ASEAN culture has become a new tourism resource. Additionally, Guangxi has wellness culture tourism resources centered on the Bama area.
By 2024, Guangxi has 10 national 5A-level scenic spots, 4 national tourist resorts, 2 national tourist and leisure blocks, 81 key national cultural relics protection units, and 70 national intangible cultural heritage items. Key tourist attractions include Nanning Qingxiu Mountain, Detian Waterfall (one of the largest natural waterfalls in Southeast Asia and the second-largest transnational waterfall in the world), Beihai Weizhou Island (known as “Penglai Island”, China’s youngest volcanic island geologically and Guangxi’s largest island), and Guilin’s “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” (Li River, Taohua River, Mulong Lake (including Tiefo Pond), Gui Lake, Rong Lake, and Shanhu Lake).
In terms of cultural landscapes, Friendship Pass is located 18 kilometers southwest of Pingxiang City, at a strategic pass between two mountains in China, serving as a key transportation hub between China and Vietnam and one of China’s nine famous passes. It has been a military stronghold since ancient times, witnessing numerous battles. The highway to Vietnam passes through the gate, with walls extending to the mountains on both sides. The gate is inscribed with “Friendship Pass” written by Marshal Chen Yi. Other cultural attractions include Guilin Royal City Scenic Area and Kunlun Pass.
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