Pilgrims flock to 'longevity county' in S China

Visitor enjoy the fresh air in Bama county in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Aug 16, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

NANNING - For the past six months, Zhou Xuezhong has been living in Bama county in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a place thousands of kilometers from his home in Beijing.

It's the second year that the retired senior citizen has chosen to live temporarily in this "longevity county," which boasts a high number of centenarians.

The 73-year-old Zhou, who has been struggling with asthma and coronary disease for years, said he believes the good environment in Bama can help him battle his diseases, and he plans to return to the county annually.

Located in northwestern Guangxi, Bama counts many long-living elderly among its population of 240,000.

Official statistics show that there are nearly 31 centenarians for every 100,000 people in Bama. In 2012, Bama reported 81 centenarians, giving it one of the highest rates of centenarians in the world.

The natural conditions in Bama are widely believed to have contributed to local people's good health. Scientific tests show that the amount of negative oxygen ion in the air in remote Bama is far above that of many other places in China, and many believe this leads residents to feel energetic and comfortable.

The stories of Bama's "living legends" have spread across the country and enticed an increasing number of people from other provinces hoping to find the elixir to an enviable long life.

Earlier this month, various media outlets in China reported that many longevity pilgrims "crawl like dogs" and even drink urine in Bama, believing such practices can help keep illness at bay.

As more newcomers swarm to the county, a health preservation industry has gradually sprung up in Bama, partly thanks to promotion by the local government and the inflow of capital. In recent years, its tourism industry has soared due to the promotion of health preservation.

"We are trying to make Bama an international resort for health and recreation," said Feng Haifeng, secretary of the county committee of the Communist Party of China in Bama.