Pilgrims flock to 'longevity county' in S China

Others are obsessed with Bama's water. They even name it "divine water," thinking that it has amazing medical effects, while in fact the unfiltered water could contain excessive bacteria and cause diarrhea, Chen said.

He added that some patients insist on swimming in the "divine water," which has led to several drowning cases and forced the local government to put up fences around rivers.

Chen said another consideration is the possibility of disease transmission if more patients come to Bama for medical treatment.

"Although the clean air and water could provide a good environment for the recovery of people with chronic diseases, it is not a hospital,"  Chen said.

He believes that people obsessed with Bama are following the crowd, and that they should have a better understanding of what health preservation is really about.

"What's really important is for people to build a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about exercise, rather than blindly searching for a long-life recipe in a longevity county," Chen said.