# Bama Yao Autonomous County

Bama Yao Autonomous County (Zhuang: Bahmax Yauzcuz Swci Yen,simplified Chinese: 巴马瑶族自治县; traditional Chinese: 巴馬瑤族自治縣; pinyin: Bāmǎ Yáozú Zìzhìxiàn) is a county in Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Hechi City. The residents of Bama County have a reputation for longevity, and Bama has been the focus of studies from geriatricians nationwide.

## History

In 1929, Bama County was part of a short-lived soviet led by Deng Xiaoping.
The county is famous for its large number of centenarians. Longevity in Bama County has been associated with cleanliness of the air and water, simplicity of life, and the lack of meat in the typical diet.
Bama County, like the province it is a part of, is a historically poor county. It is now becoming a major destination for health tourism within China, resulting in increasing economic opportunities.

## Administrative divisions

There is 3 town and 7 townships in the county:

### Towns

Bama (巴马镇), Jiazhuan (甲篆镇), Yandong (燕洞镇)

### Townships

Nashe Township (那社乡), Suolue Township (所略乡), Xishan Township (西山乡), Dongshan Township (东山乡), Fenghuang Township (凤凰乡), Bailin Township (百林乡), Natao Township (那桃乡)

## Demographics

The Yao people of Bama County consist of the following three subgroups.
* Bunu (布努): in Dongshan (东山乡)
* Nuomang (诺芒): in Suolüe (所略乡) and Yandong (燕洞乡)
* Nuonuo (诺诺): in remaining townships

## Climate

Climate data for Bama, elevation 255 m (837 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.8 (85.6) | 34.8 (94.6) | 36.6 (97.9) | 39.2 (102.6) | 38.1 (100.6) | 37.2 (99.0) | 38.2 (100.8) | 39.0 (102.2) | 38.9 (102.0) | 34.9 (94.8) | 32.3 (90.1) | 30.8 (87.4) | 39.2 (102.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.3 (61.3) | 18.9 (66.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.3 (88.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 18.8 (65.8) | 26.1 (79.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.0 (53.6) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 22.1 (71.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.0 (80.6) | 25.1 (77.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 20.8 (69.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.6 (65.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.6 (74.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 18.1 (64.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 9.7 (49.5) | 17.5 (63.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.6 (29.1) | 0.3 (32.5) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.2 (46.8) | 10.8 (51.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.5 (67.1) | 12.9 (55.2) | 6.8 (44.2) | 1.5 (34.7) | −2.3 (27.9) | −2.3 (27.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 34.7 (1.37) | 27.7 (1.09) | 50.9 (2.00) | 88.2 (3.47) | 222.2 (8.75) | 351.6 (13.84) | 284.0 (11.18) | 209.7 (8.26) | 120.1 (4.73) | 88.5 (3.48) | 48.7 (1.92) | 29.7 (1.17) | 1,556 (61.26) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 10.6 | 9.5 | 12.3 | 13.2 | 15.3 | 18.4 | 18.5 | 16.0 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 148.7 |
| Average snowy days | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 80 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 77 | 80 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 55.2 | 62.1 | 70.0 | 108.5 | 139.8 | 129.8 | 168.3 | 191.3 | 171.6 | 135.0 | 119.9 | 96.6 | 1,448.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 17 | 19 | 19 | 28 | 34 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 47 | 38 | 37 | 29 | 32 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||