Meaning of the name
"Wide West". This is a contraction of the old name Guangnan Xilu, "Wide South, West Route", meaning that it is the western half of the entire territory beyond the Southern Mountains. Guangxi is called "Gui" for short

Geographical location:
Located in south China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is a coastal province. It occupies a land of 236,700 square km, accounting for 2.5 percent of the nation's total and ranking ninth among all the provinces.

Capital: Nanning

Major Cities: Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Longsheng, Wuzhou, Beihai, Yangshuo, Pingxiang, Bose

Neighboring Areas: Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan and Guangdong provinces

Attractions in Guangxi

Population:
44.89 million (2001)

Population growth rate: 9.43¡ë

Ethnicity:
Guangxi is multi-ethnic region, where a number of ethnic groups live, including the largest groups such as the Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Dong, Mulam, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Yi, Shui and Gelao, and some 25 smaller ones. The people of ethnic minority groups came to 17.956 million by 1999, accounting for 38.1 percent of the region¡¯s total. The Zhuang is the largest ethnic minority group in the region, which has a population of 15.38 million.

Culture
Although the Zhuang are the largest ethnic minority group within China, they and the other minorities in Guangxi are said to have been assimilated into Han Chinese culture more than the minorities in the other autonomous regions of China.

Traditional traits of the Zhuang culture include a preference for wet-rice farming in valley bottoms, building houses on raised platforms, and a higher social status for women than in Han Chinese culture.

Literacy:
The statistics available in 1999 showed that Guangxi had 157 primary schools, 36 middle schools, 22 polytechnic schools and three colleges specially for the students of minority ethnic groups. This enables the ratio of the schooling students of minority ethnic groups to exceed that of the population in the region¡¯s total.

Elevation extremes:
Situated on the southeast ring of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Guangxi stands high in the northwest and low in the southeast, with the highest point at 2,141 meters above sea level.

Natural resources
Water resources:
Thickly crossed by rivers, Guangxi is rich in water resource. It is estimated that the surface water flowing in the province amounts to 188 billion cubic meters, accounting for 7.12 percent of the nation¡¯s total and ranking fifth among the provinces. The per capita possession of water resources in Guangxi is 4,138 cubic meters, nearly double the national average. The three largest water systems running through the province are Zhujiang (Pearl River), Yangtze and Duliu rivers.

Because of the abundant water resources, Guangxi is estimated to have an energy potential with a power generating ability coming to 78.8 billion kw/h annually. Statistics of 1999 showed that existing hydropower stations in Guangxi had a total installed capacity of 6.1 million kw, with the annually generated electricity being 24.73 billion kw/h, leaving an immense room for development.

Minerals:
Guangxi is known for having various mineral deposits, and it serves as one of the 10 important production bases of nonferrous metals in China. The number of proven mineral resources comes to 96, including 53 of which the deposits ranks 10th or above among provinces. The region has especially abundant reserves of manganese and tin, which amount for one third of the national total. In addition, Guangxi takes a leading role in having the reserves of vanadium, tungsten, antimony, silver, aluminum, talcum and so forth. What makes the province a favorite place for mineral development and production is that the mineral resources are found relatively concentrated lying beneath the earth.

Tourist resources:
The picturesque scenic spots in Guangxi are famous worldwide, symbolized by Guilin, a natural beauty produced by unique karst geography. At present, the province has established several tourist attractions including three state-level natural scenic spots, 11 state-level forest parks, 30 regional natural scenic spots, 15 state-level cultural and historical relics, 221 regional cultural and historical relics and one state-level tourist resort in Beihai City.

Marine resources:
The southern section of Guangxi is ringed by seacoast. The Beibu Bay, a natural semi-enclosed bay in the northwest of the South China Sea, covers an area of 129,300 square km, with the depth of water averaging 38 meters, the deepest point at 100 meters down.

Located in the tropic zone, the Beibu Bay provides a favorable environment for the breeding and growth of various fish species. It is home to over 500 types of fish and shellfish. Among them over 50 are of economic value. They include red snapper, grouper, Spanish mackerel, butterfish and red coat. The total fish resources amount to 750,000 tons. The Beibu Bay Fish Farm covers an area of some 40,000 square sea miles.

Sub-tropical vegetation and animals:
By now, 929 kinds of land-based vertebrate animals are found in Guangxi, accounting for 43.3 percent of those found in China. Among these wild animals are 149 kinds which are rare species.

Guangxi ranks first among the Chinese provinces in being home to the rare species of plants. About 8,354 wild plants have been found in the region, including 122 kinds which are near distinction and need special protection.

A kingdom of fruits:
Among the 670 species of fruits growing in China, 110 take their roots in Guangxi. As the tropical or sub-tropical fruits account for 80 percent of the total growing there, Guangxi is regarded as a leading province in China to produce and export the delicacies. The region is well known for high-quality shaddock, banana, pineapple and orange. The year 2001 saw Guangxi producing a total of 4.05 million tons of fruits, ranking first among the Chinese provinces.

Vast stretches of natural forests:
The survey made in recent years showed that the forests in Guangxi occupied a land of 13.2 million hectares, accounting for 55.54 percent of the province¡¯s total territory. Good climate and geographical location enable Guangxi to have as many as over 8,000 tree species, including more than 1,000 kinds of arbor. Most of the precious forest resources are seen concentrating in the northeast section and Baise area, where about 39 percent of the province¡¯s timber products are put out.

Climate:
Situated in a region at low latitudes, Guangxi borders on the tropic sea in the south, and has mountain ranges in its northern part. Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau extends into western part of Guangxi. Under the joint action of the sun radiation and atmospheric circulation, the climate here is characterized by having a short winter and long summer with the annual temperature averaging between 16oC and 23oC.

The annual rainfalls in Guangxi are between 1,000 ¨C 2,800 mm, growing gradually southward from the north. The rainfalls from April through September make up 75 percent of the annual rainfalls. The rainy season just coincide with the hot season.

Affected by abnormal advances and retreats of monsoon, Guangxi often sees changes in precipitation and temperature. Drought, floods, typhoon and hailstorms may frequently hit the area.

Average Temperature: 6C to 16C in January, 25C to 29C in July

Environment and current issues:
A record of 1999 showed that 12 major pollutants coming from the industrial discharges were put under well control in the region according to state statute in environment. In Nanning, Guilin and Beihai, three cities subjected to intense environmental care, the environment quality has reached the national standard for important cities and scenic spots. The air quality in major cities and towns in the province have all reached the second level. About 80 percent of the local rivers are maintained clean or basically clean.

Transportation
Railways:
By the end of 1999, the total rail line on operation had stretched to 3,120 km.

Highways:
By the end of 1999, the total highways open to traffic were as long as 51,378 km.

Waterways:
Guangxi has a coastline stretching for 1,595km, along which 21 ports have been established, including 18 large-capacity and deep-water berths. Fangcheng, Beihai and Qinzhou ports have an annual handling capacity of 12.56 million tons of goods each. Guangxi is believed to be the best place in south China to do sea transportation because of its geographical location.

Airports:
Guangxi has five airports respectively in Nanning, Guilin, Beihai, Liuzhou and Wuzhou. Twenty-three airliners are operating 109 air routes (including 99 domestic, five regional and five international ones).

Telecommunications
Telephones:
In 1993, program-controlled telephone system was available in every county in Guangxi. By 2001, the telephone network in the region had been enlarged to a great extent, providing service to 2.46 million fixed phone subscribers, 800,000 subscribers of mobile phone and 1.95 million subscribers of pager.

Radio and TV stations:In 2001, the region had 26 TV stations, 22 radio stations and 13 cable TV stations. The TV broadcast network covers 88.3 percent of the region¡¯s population, while the radio broadcast network covers 83.5 percent of the regional population.