Nanshang Hot Springs

　　In Nanshang Township, Babu District, Hezhou City, there are three major hot springs: Dadatang, Shuilou, and Xixi, as well as numerous smaller ones, all located near villages. Among them, Shuilou Hot Spring is situated in Lianghuai Village and is considered the finest hot spring source in eastern Guangxi. The spring has a water flow rate of 0.2 cubic meters per second and a temperature as high as 73°C, hot enough to boil eggs and remove animal feathers. The hot spring water is rich in minerals such as sulfur, arsenic, selenium, and fluorine, and is known to be effective in treating skin diseases, rheumatism, and rheumatoid conditions.

　　The local Zhuang people in Nanshang refer to hot springs as "re tang" (hot soup), and bathing in these hot springs is called "hot spring bathing." Each hot spring site has a bathhouse, typically around 20 to 30 square meters in size, with separate pools for men and women. Every evening, people flock to the hot spring baths, and during peak times, even the small pools become crowded with visitors. For a while, the baths are filled with lively chatter. In one rectangular pool, lined with cobblestones along the edges and dotted with a few large rocks in the center, people sit or semi-recline in the water, chatting about daily life and current affairs, reflecting on the changes in the world and the truths of life—all while soaking in the hot springs.

　　Nanshang Township has a subtropical monsoon climate, with no severe cold or extreme heat. The average annual temperature is around 19°C. The area is mostly mountainous and hilly, with forested land covering 380,000 mu and a forest coverage rate of 68.3%. The region is rich in tourism resources and also includes the 160,000-mu (approximately 105 square kilometers in horizontal projection area) Huishuichong Primitive Forest Nature Reserve. The reserve hosts 178 families, 517 genera, and 1,046 species of plants. Many of these species are ancient in origin, including numerous endemic and relict species in China, such as Fujian cypress, cyclocarya paliurus, nanhua wood, tsoongiodendron odorum, macropanax macrocarpus, and cephalotaxus fortunei. It also features national first-class protected plant species, such as tree ferns, as well as a wide variety of rare wild animals.

　　Among them are national first-class protected animals, such as pangolins. The reserve boasts towering ancient trees, unique waterfalls, a cool climate, and clean air, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats and vacations. Developing eco-tourism in the Huishuichong Nature Reserve can drive the growth of related industries in Nanshang Township, increase farmers' incomes and local government revenue, and promote regional economic development.