Pilgrims flock to 'longevity county' in S China

In 2012, the county received more than 2 million domestic and foreign tourists, a year-on-year increase of 23.3 percent. The revenue it generated stood at around 2 billion yuan (about $327 million), accounting for 48.6 percent of Bama's annual gross domestic product.

In the first five months of this year, Bama has already received over 1 million visitors, generating more than 927 million yuan in tourism revenue.

The reputation of the remote county is so widespread that it has even attracted a number of people who travel from far away to live in Bama for an extended stay.

This group is nicknamed "houniaoren," or "migratory people," with lives like those of migratory birds - flying south in winter and staying in Bama for several months.

Chen Jinchao, head of the Guangxi Bama Longevity Research Institute, said the number of migratory people flocking to Bama has been on the rise in recent years.

"Last year, around 10,000 such tourists spent their Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, in Bama," he said.

Government statistics show that in 2012 alone about 180,000 migratory people visited Bama.

Most of the migratory people go to Bama for health recovery or even medical treatment, as they believe living conditions there can facilitate recovery.

Zhu Zhijun, a migratory person himself, said there are thousands of people like him living in Bama, many of whom have been diagnosed with cancer or tumors.

While the incoming tourists have contributed to the growing tourism revenue, they have also raised concerns.

Although no scientific evidence has proven that the natural environment in Bama is effective in curing illness, the county's reputation for longevity has stirred blind faith among many who regard it as a place offering the recipe for long life.

"Some people believe that once they are in Bama, all manner of diseases will be miraculously cured, without taking any medication," Chen said.

For instance, some patients resort to eating the Huoma, a local vegetable believed to guarantee a long life, on a daily basis, just because they believe that the Huoma will "keep the doctors away."