Why Guangxi

Guangxi, located in South China and with Nanning as its capital, is the only coastal autonomous region in China. It has a total area of 236,700 square kilometers.
 

Geology and Climate

Guangxi, with full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is situated in China's southern frontier area, facing Beibuwan Gulf in the south (The total length of the coast line is about 1,500 kilometres.) and bordering Viet Nam on the southwest. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960 A.D-1127 A.D), this region was under the administration of Guangnanxi Lu (lu, ancient name for province), which was later abbreviated as Guangxi Lu, hence the name Guangxi. In the Qin Dunasty(221 B.C-207 B.C), the region was under the administration of Guilin Jun and Xiang Jun (jun, ancient name for prefecture), and became known as Gui subsequently.
Located in a subtropical area and enjoying a humid and monsoon climate, Guangxi has long and hot summer, and occasionally cold winter, with distinctive dry and rainy seasons. The annual average temperature is 17ºC-23ºC (62.6 ºF and 73.4 ºF), with a frost-free period exceeding 300 days. The annual rainfall averages between 1,000mm to 2,800mm.
 

History

The Region was called Baiyuedi in ancient times and various administrations were set up in Guangxi in different dynasties: in the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C-207 B.C), it was under the administration of Guilin Prefecture and Nanhaixiang Prefecture; in the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D-907 A.D), it belonged to Lingnandao Prefecture; in the Song Dynasty (960 A.D-1297A.D), it came under the jurisdiction of Guangnanxi Lu, later known as Guangxi; in the Yuan Dynasty( 1271 A.D-1368 A.D), it became part of Hunan-Guangxi Province; in the Ming Dynasty(1368 A.D-1644 A.D), it was under the administration of Guangxi Department and become Guangxi Province in the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D-1911A.D). In March 5,1958, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was officially set up.
 

Population and Nationalities

The Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group. Of these, the main subgroups are those that speak Yue and Southwestern Mandarin varieties of Chinese. Guangxi has over 14 million Zhuangs, the largest minority ethnicity of China. Over 90 percent of Zhuang in China live in Guangxi, especially in the central and western regions. There is also a significant number of both Dong and Miao minority peoples. Other ethnic groups include Yao, Hui, Yi (Lolo), Shui, and Gin (Vietnamese).
 

Economy

Important crops in Guangxi include rice, maize and sweet potatoes. Cash crops include sugar cane, peanuts, tobacco, and kenaf. 85 percent of the world's star anise is grown in Guangxi. It is a major ingredient in the antiviral Tamiflu. Guangxi is one of China's key production centers for nonferrous metals. The province holds approximately 1/3 of all tin and manganese deposits in China.