China , Guangxi , jinxiu

Overview of Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County

Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County is subordinate to Laibin City of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, located in the main mountain range of Dayao Mountain, and is the earliest Yao Autonomous County established in China (founded in 1952). The county has a total area of 2,468 square kilometers, with a resident population of about 150,000, of which 34.5% are Yao, containing five major Yao clans: Pan Yao, Chashan Yao, Hualan Yao, Shanzi Yao and Au Yao.

Natural Ecology and Tourism Resources

Jinxiu has the Dayao Mountain National Nature Reserve, with a forest coverage of 87.99%, which is known as the "Lingnan Biological Gene Bank". Shengtang Mountain, Lotus Mountain and other scenic spots are famous for their Danxia landforms, sea of clouds, azaleas and ten thousand acres of azaleas, and the average annual temperature is 17℃, making it a famous summer resort in South China. Rare plants and animals such as silver fir and crocodile lizard are found in the territory, and the silver fir king tree is more than 1,000 years old.

Yao Cultural Characteristics

As the center of Yao culture, Jinxiu preserves a complete system of Yao folklore: the Yellow Nud Drum Dance and the Pan Wang Festival are listed as national intangible cultural heritages, and the practice of Yao medicine and bathing has been selected as one of the world's intangible heritages. The local Yao folk houses, costumes and long table feasts are unique, and the annual Panwang Festival on the 16th day of the 10th lunar month attracts tens of thousands of tourists from home and abroad.

Economic Development and Transportation

Jinxiu has ecological agriculture and tourism as its leading industries, and is rich in specialties such as lingzhi, black tea and wild ganoderma lucidum, etc. After the highway comes through in 2023, the distance to Liuzhou Airport will be shortened to 1.5 hours, and the construction of the Dayao Mountain Ecotourism Loop is being accelerated to create an international Yao cultural tourism destination.