Map of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 2006 New Version

Author: Du Huajing, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is abbreviated as Guangxi. Located in the southern frontier of the motherland, it borders Vietnam. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was part of Baiyue (Yue) territory. The Qin Dynasty established the Guilin Commandery, with parts belonging to the Xiang Commandery. During the Tang Dynasty, it was part of Lingnan Circuit. In the Song Dynasty, it was part of Guangnan West Road. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was under the Hunan-Guangxi Provincial Administration. In the Qing Dynasty, it became Guangxi Province. The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was established in 1958. It now administers 14 prefecture-level cities, 10 county-level cities, 59 counties, and 12 autonomous counties. The total land area of the region is 236,000 square kilometers, with a population of 48.57 million. There are 12 resident ethnic groups, including the Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Dong, Mulao, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Yi, Shui, and Gelao. The regional capital is Nanning.
The terrain of Guangxi is roughly basin-shaped, with higher elevations in the northwest and lower elevations in the southeast. The region is characterized by extensive hills and crisscrossing river valleys. The Dàyáo Mountain and Dàmíng Mountain form an arc-shaped mountain range curving southward. About half of the region is covered by limestone karst formations, which, due to high temperatures and abundant rainfall, have been eroded into a variety of shapes, including peaks and caves, creating scenic landscapes of mountains and water.
Guangxi has a subtropical monsoon climate in the southern region, with abundant rainfall and humid summers and dry winters. The average annual temperature ranges from 17°C to 22°C. July is the hottest month, with average temperatures above 28°C, while January is the coldest, with average temperatures between 6°C and 14°C. The average annual rainfall is between 1,600 and 2,700 millimeters. The rich water and heat resources provide ideal conditions for agricultural crops, allowing for two to three harvests per year. Major crops include rice, corn, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and tea. The region is renowned for its production of sand pear, lychee, longan, pineapple, and loofah. Specialty products include cinnamon, star anise, angelica sinensis, and mulberry wood, rosin, copal, and "Nan Pearl."
Guangxi is rich in mineral resources, primarily including bauxite, tin, antimony, zinc, lead, and limestone. The industrial sector focuses on non-ferrous metals, automobile and machinery manufacturing, sugar refining, construction materials, and canned food. Traditional handicrafts include Zhuang brocade, Yao embroidery, shell carvings, and bamboo weaving.
Guangxi boasts superior geographical advantages, combining coastal, border, and riverine benefits. The region has convenient land and water transportation. It has five airports: Guilin, Nanning, Beihai, Liuzhou, and Wuzhou. Major railways, such as the Xiang-Guangxi, Gui-Guangxi, Zhizhou-Liuzhou, Nanning-Kunming, and Liuzhou-Zhanjiang lines, crisscross the region. High-speed highways like the Guangxi-Sea (Guilin-Nanning-Beihai), Yizhou (Yizhou-Liuzhou), Xingliu (Xingye-Lijiang), and the upcoming Shuinan (Duan'an Shiren-Nanning) and Nanyou (Nanning-Yong'an Pass) expressways are well-connected. The three ports of Beihai, Qinzhou, and Fangchenggang have 20 berths with a capacity of over 10,000 tons, with an annual throughput of 19.94 million tons. The inland ports have an annual throughput of 30.52 million tons. Guangxi has become the most convenient exit channel for the Greater Southwest.