Bama Longevity Village

Bama Longevity Village

Bama Longevity Village is located in Guangxi and features original natural landscapes, green stone markets, and eco-tourism. You can sample genuine farmhouse food, meet long-lived seniors, and enjoy a distinct Fujian-Guangdong vibe. Also known as Bapan Tun, Ping’an Village, Jiayuan Town, it lies in the scenic mountainous area of northern Guangxi. Since olden times, the village has been known for its high number of elderly residents, earning it the title of the “World’s Longevity Village.” Most visitors come here to meet the centenarians and seek their blessings.

The longevity of people in Bama, Guangxi, is closely related to geography, climate, and environment, but also to a harmonious social atmosphere, healthy lifestyles, and balanced diets among the elderly. The diet of Bama’s long-living residents generally follows a “four lows and one high” principle: low salt, low sugar, low fat, low animal protein, and high fiber. They consume pollution-free vegetables and grains grown locally, with staples including corn and rice, supplemented by wild greens and sweet potatoes, along with only small amounts of meat.

Historically, Bama Longevity Village in Guangxi was an important entrepôt for trade between Fujian and Guangdong, once nicknamed “Little Hong Kong.” In the past, after the Ting River flowed past Fengshi, it reached the famed “Cotton Shoals,” where steep cliffs rose on both sides, and the river narrowed drastically — at its narrowest, just 10 meters wide — resembling the mouth of a teapot. The river water shot through the shoals’ rocky terrain like an arrow, churning up foam like tufts of cotton. The passage was often described as “ten miles of Cotton Shoals, with river water descending from the heavens,” and it served as a crucial gateway at the Ting River’s exit.

The longevity of Bama residents is due to a mix of genetic inheritance and, more importantly, the water of the Panyang River, their unique “diet,” and the area’s status as a “natural oxygen bar.” It is said that most of Bama’s ancestors came from other regions and were of above-average height, with women noted for their beauty — factors linked to several historical instances of ethnic assimilation.

Historical assimilation and modern isolation have kept Bama in a naturally semi-closed state, resulting in few outbreaks of infectious diseases or chronic conditions. During periods of assimilation, mysterious longevity genes quietly “lay dormant.” Researchers who studied 74 of Bama’s current centenarians found that 68% came from long-lived families.

The reasons behind Bama people’s longevity are multifaceted. In short, Bama enjoys unparalleled advantages in air, drinking water, and food compared to other regions. The mountain air is fresh and rich in negative ions. Regarding drinking water, most rivers and springs in Bama emerge from underground after flowing for thousands of meters, absorbing health-benefiting trace elements like selenium and strontium from various strata. Regular consumption helps regulate bodily functions and promotes longevity.

When it comes to food, Bama residents traditionally eat congee made from rice or corn, or a mixture of both — a lifelong habit that has earned the area the title of “Porridge Longevity Village.” Among Bama’s centenarians, only about 3% suffer from cardiovascular diseases, and there has never been a case of colon cancer. Experts attribute this to the consumption of hemp seed oil (i.e., -oil). Hemp seed oil has a fragrant taste, is rich yet not greasy, and contains nutrients such as oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, and linolenic acid. It helps moisten the intestines, nourish the body, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and prevent arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. As a result, it is hailed as the “longevity oil.”

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