Hechi Culture

Located in northwestern Guangxi at the southern foothills of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Hechi（河池） is one of the most culturally diverse destinations in China, combining ancient ethnic traditions, intangible cultural heritage, revolutionary history, karst landscapes, and longevity culture. The city covers two districts and nine counties, including five ethnic autonomous counties, and is home to eight indigenous ethnic groups such as the Zhuang, Yao, Mulao, Maonan, Miao, Dong, Shui, and Han peoples. With ethnic minorities accounting for more than 85% of the local population, Hechi preserves a rich collection of traditional customs, festivals, handicrafts, villages, and lifestyles.

Hechi is recognized as a major center of Tonggu Drum Culture（铜鼓文化）, with one of the largest collections of ancient bronze drums in the world. It is also the birthplace of Liu Sanjie Folk Songs（刘三姐歌谣）, one of the most representative folk music traditions of southern China. Together with the world-famous longevity culture of Bama, the revolutionary heritage of Donglan, and the unique ethnic traditions of Mulao, Maonan, and Baiku Yao communities, Hechi has developed a distinctive cultural tourism system.

The cultural resources of Hechi can be explored through several themed areas: the urban revolutionary culture of Jinchengjiang, the Liu Sanjie folk song culture of Yizhou, the Donglan-Bama-Fengshan longevity and red culture corridor, the Mulao heritage area of Luocheng, the Maonan cultural area of Huanjiang, the Baiku Yao traditional culture area of Nandan, and the karst mountain ethnic areas of Tian’e, Du’an, and Dahua.

Jinchengjiang District（河池市金城江区）｜Revolutionary Heritage and Urban Culture Center

Historical Background and Cultural Value

Jinchengjiang District（河池市金城江区） is the political, transportation, and commercial center of Hechi. Located along an important route between Guangxi and Guizhou, the area has historically served as a place of cultural exchange among different ethnic groups. During the revolutionary period, it became an important activity area of the Seventh Red Army（红七军） and preserved valuable revolutionary memories.

The district is suitable for visitors interested in Chinese modern history, patriotic education, and cultural research. It also functions as the transportation gateway for exploring the surrounding counties and ethnic cultural areas.

Main Cultural Attractions

The Red Army Slogan Building（红军标语楼） is one of the most representative revolutionary sites in Hechi, preserving original slogans and murals from the revolutionary period. The Hechi Revolutionary Memorial Hall（河池革命纪念馆） introduces the history of local revolutionary movements and important historical figures.

Besides revolutionary tourism, Jinchengjiang provides visitors with urban experiences including local markets, traditional food streets, ethnic handicraft shops, and cultural exhibitions.

Yizhou District（河池市宜州区）｜Liu Sanjie Folk Song Homeland and Ancient Culture

Ancient History and Cultural Heritage

Yizhou District（宜州区） is the cultural heart of Hechi and one of the most historically important areas in western Guangxi. With more than one thousand years of history, Yizhou was once the political and cultural center of ancient Guangxi and attracted many scholars and travelers.

Historical figures such as Huang Tingjian and Xu Xiake visited the region and recorded its landscapes and cultural traditions. The area developed a unique cultural identity based on river civilization, agriculture, trade, and Zhuang ethnic traditions.

Liu Sanjie Culture and Ancient Villages

The most famous cultural symbol of Yizhou is Liu Sanjie Folk Songs（刘三姐歌谣）, a national intangible cultural heritage representing Zhuang singing traditions. The folk songs express local history, farming life, emotions, and the close relationship between people and nature.

Liu Sanjie Hometown Scenic Area（刘三姐故里景区） allows visitors to experience traditional songs, ethnic costumes, river landscapes, and village culture. The region also combines cultural tourism with sericulture and silk production, making it ideal for educational tours focusing on traditional agriculture and handicrafts.

Huaiyuan Ancient Town（怀远古镇） preserves historical streets, traditional buildings, and old commercial culture. The ancient town reflects the importance of river transportation and regional trade in Guangxi’s history.

Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County（罗城仫佬族自治县）｜China’s Mulao Cultural Center

Mulao Ethnic History

Luocheng（罗城） is the only Mulao autonomous county in China and is the most important destination for experiencing Mulao culture. The Mulao people have preserved traditional farming customs, ancestor worship, folk songs, festivals, and handicrafts.

Tianhe Ancient Town（天河古镇） represents the historical development of the region, with traditional streets, old buildings, stone inscriptions, and cultural relics reflecting centuries of local civilization.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

The most important Mulao cultural festival is the Yifan Festival（依饭节）, a traditional ceremony honoring ancestors and praying for peace and good harvests. Other cultural traditions include Mulao ancient songs, embroidery, and traditional pottery craftsmanship.

Luocheng offers authentic ethnic experiences through village visits, cultural performances, and handicraft activities, making it an excellent destination for international cultural study tours.

Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County（环江毛南族自治县）｜Maonan Heritage and Ecological Culture

Maonan Culture and Traditional Villages

Huanjiang（环江） is the birthplace of the Maonan ethnic group and one of the best destinations for experiencing Maonan traditions. The county combines ethnic heritage with spectacular karst landscapes and ecological conservation areas.

Zhongnan Village（中南村） preserves traditional Maonan village culture, including local architecture, agricultural customs, and community traditions. Visitors can learn about the lifestyle of one of China’s smallest ethnic groups.

Traditional Crafts and Festivals

The Maonan people are famous for Feitao Ritual Opera（毛南族肥套）, a traditional performance combining ritual, music, storytelling, and community beliefs. Another important heritage skill is Huazhu Hat Weaving（毛南族花竹帽编织）, a traditional bamboo handicraft.

Combined with Mulun Karst（木论喀斯特）, Huanjiang provides a rare combination of ethnic culture, ecological study, geology, and traditional craftsmanship.

Nandan County（南丹县）｜Baiku Yao Heritage and Traditional Wine Culture

Baiku Yao Living Culture

Nandan（南丹） is home to the Baiku Yao（白裤瑶）, one of the most unique ethnic communities in China. Known as a “living fossil of human civilization”, the Baiku Yao preserve ancient traditions through clothing, festivals, music, copper drums, and handicrafts.

Their white trousers, handmade embroidery, traditional ceremonies, and oral traditions represent a valuable cultural heritage system.

Ethnic Villages and Wine Culture

Gayasi Valley Baiku Yao Village（歌娅思谷白裤瑶风情园） provides opportunities to experience ethnic houses, traditional performances, handicrafts, and local cuisine. Visitors can learn about Baiku Yao clothing production, embroidery, folk songs, and traditional lifestyles.

Nandan is also famous for Dongtian Jiuhai Wine Culture（洞天酒海文化）, where natural karst caves are used as wine storage areas. This creates a unique combination of ethnic culture, geological landscape, and traditional brewing knowledge.

Donglan County（东兰县）｜Red Revolution Heritage and Tonggu Drum Culture

Revolutionary History

Donglan（东兰） is one of the most important revolutionary areas in Guangxi and is known as a birthplace of the Guangxi peasant movement. It played a key role in the early development of the Seventh Red Army（红七军） and is closely connected with revolutionary figure Wei Baqun.

Important historical attractions include Lenin Cave（列宁岩）, Wei Baqun Memorial Hall（韦拔群纪念馆）, and other revolutionary heritage sites. These locations provide valuable resources for history education and cultural research.

Tonggu Drum Tradition

Donglan is also a core area of Zhuang Tonggu Drum Culture（壮族铜鼓文化）. Copper drums are important symbols of traditional beliefs, community identity, and ritual culture among Zhuang communities.

Visitors can combine revolutionary history with ethnic cultural experiences, including folk performances, traditional festivals, and village exploration.

Bama Yao Autonomous County（巴马瑶族自治县）｜World Longevity Culture Destination

Longevity Culture and Traditional Lifestyle

Bama（巴马） is internationally recognized as a world longevity destination. Its longevity culture is closely connected with the natural environment, traditional agriculture, healthy diets, and the peaceful lifestyle of local communities.

The Panyang River area has become the cultural symbol of longevity, where visitors can explore traditional villages, farming methods, herbal knowledge, and local food culture.

Cultural Experiences

Important attractions include Longevity Village（长寿村）, Bama Crystal Palace（水晶宫）, and traditional Yao villages. Visitors can experience longevity lifestyles, Yao medicine traditions, embroidery, and healthy local cuisine.

Bama is especially suitable for wellness tourism, slow travel, cultural research, and long-term stays.

Fengshan County（凤山县）｜Karst Heritage and Longevity Corridor

Natural and Cultural Landscape

Fengshan（凤山） forms an important part of the Donglan-Bama-Fengshan longevity cultural corridor. The county combines karst mountains, underground rivers, ancient villages, and traditional mountain lifestyles.

Sanmenhai Scenic Area（三门海景区） is the most famous attraction, featuring spectacular water skylights and underground karst landscapes. It is an ideal destination for geological education and ecological tourism.

The county also preserves traditional villages, medicinal food culture, and ethnic customs, creating a unique combination of natural scenery and cultural heritage.

Tian’e County（天峨县）｜Hongshui River and Highland Culture

River Civilization and Ethnic Traditions

Tian’e（天峨） developed along the Hongshui River and has a long history connected with river transportation, mountain agriculture, and Zhuang traditions.

The county preserves copper drum culture, traditional villages, and river-based lifestyles. With attractions such as Longtan Lake（龙滩天湖） and canyon landscapes, Tian’e combines ecological tourism with cultural exploration.

Du’an Yao Autonomous County（都安瑶族自治县）｜Yao Epic and Karst Civilization

Yao Cultural Heritage

Du’an（都安） is an important area for Yao culture and the inheritance of the creation epic Miluotuo（密洛陀）. The region is famous for karst peaks, underground rivers, sinkholes, and traditional Yao villages.

The Miluotuo epic records the origins, migration history, agricultural traditions, and spiritual beliefs of the Yao people. Visitors can explore the connection between ethnic history and karst landscapes.

Dahua Yao Autonomous County（大化瑶族自治县）｜Qibainong Mountains and Yao Culture

Mountain Culture and Traditional Communities

Dahua（大化） is famous for Qibainong National Geopark（七百弄国家地质公园） and the traditional culture of mountain Yao communities.

The region preserves highland farming traditions, ethnic festivals, and river culture. The combination of spectacular mountains, Hongshui River scenery, and Yao traditions makes Dahua ideal for photography, ecological research, and cultural exploration.

Ethnic Minority Culture of Hechi

Zhuang Culture

The Zhuang people represent the largest ethnic group in Hechi. Their cultural symbols include Liu Sanjie folk songs, Tonggu drums, and the Sanyuesan Festival（三月三节日）. Singing, farming traditions, and respect for nature remain important parts of Zhuang identity.

Mulao and Maonan Culture

The Mulao people of Luocheng preserve Yifan Festival traditions, ancient songs, embroidery, and agricultural customs. The Maonan people of Huanjiang maintain Feitao ritual culture, bamboo hat weaving, and seasonal festivals connected with nature and farming.

Yao and Baiku Yao Culture

Yao communities in Bama, Fengshan, Du’an, and Dahua preserve the Miluotuo epic, medicinal traditions, and mountain lifestyles. The Baiku Yao of Nandan maintain one of the most complete traditional cultural systems in southern China through clothing, copper drums, and ceremonies.

Intangible Cultural Heritage and Cultural Tourism Experiences

Hechi has developed a rich intangible cultural heritage system including Liu Sanjie folk songs, Miluotuo epic, Zhuang Tonggu customs, Zhuang frog festival traditions, Maonan Feitao rituals, Mulao Yifan Festival, Huazhu hat weaving, Baiku Yao clothing production, copper drum dances, Yao medicine traditions, and traditional sports.

These heritage resources provide excellent opportunities for international visitors to participate in cultural workshops, ethnic festivals, handicraft experiences, village visits, and educational programs.

Best Seasons for Hechi Cultural Travel

Spring Cultural Tours

From March to May, visitors can experience folk festivals, village activities, and traditional performances. Yizhou Liu Sanjie culture, ethnic villages, and handicraft experiences are especially attractive during this period.

Summer Cultural Tours

From June to August, karst caves, forests, and rivers provide cooler travel experiences. Bama longevity culture and Fengshan karst landscapes are ideal for summer cultural exploration.

Autumn Cultural Tours

From September to November, Hechi enters the best cultural tourism season. Comfortable weather, clear landscapes, and active village workshops make this period perfect for cultural photography, study tours, and ethnic experiences.

Winter Cultural Tours

From December to February, visitors can enjoy slower cultural journeys, longevity experiences in Bama, and traditional ethnic festivals.

International Cultural Study Tours with Yaso Trip

Hechi is highly suitable for international student groups and cultural research programs. Schools and organizations can combine ethnic culture, geology, ecology, agriculture, and revolutionary history into customized study routes.

Recommended themes include Zhuang folk song education in Yizhou, Baiku Yao cultural workshops in Nandan, Maonan ecological study in Huanjiang, revolutionary history education in Donglan, and longevity lifestyle research in Bama.

Yaso Trip can arrange bilingual guides, cultural teachers, ethnic food experiences, handicraft workshops, village exchanges, and customized educational programs for overseas visitors.

Hechi Cultural Travel Experience

Hechi is a rare destination where ethnic traditions, intangible heritage, revolutionary history, karst landscapes, and longevity culture exist together. From Liu Sanjie’s mountain songs in Yizhou to Baiku Yao traditions in Nandan, Maonan heritage in Huanjiang, revolutionary memories in Donglan, and longevity lifestyles in Bama, every region presents a unique cultural story.

For travelers seeking authentic experiences beyond China’s major tourist cities, Hechi offers deep cultural immersion through traditional villages, ethnic festivals, ecological landscapes, and community-based tourism. It is an ideal destination for cultural exploration, international study tours, photography journeys, and customized China travel with Yaso Trip.