Hechi turns premium water into thriving quality economy

Hechi has built a "quality water economy" from its premium water resources by developing eco-tourism, bottled water, and liquor-tourism industries.

It has established hundreds of protected drinking water source areas, utilizing drones and random inspections to monitor 1,157 river discharge outlets in key basins.

The Blue Knifefish, hailed by many netizens as "the most heartwarming ecological wonder", continues to gain popularity through short-form video platforms. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The improved water quality has boosted tourism, with Tian'e county's Hongshui River, now home to revived populations of water-quality-sensitive blue knifefish, attracting 173,600 visitors during this year's May Day holiday, generating 115 million yuan ($15.86 million) in tourism revenue.

Its unique water resources form the foundation for its bottled water industry. Western Hechi's Panyang River Scenic Area, also known as Longevity River Scenic Area, produces small molecular cluster water, while the eastern Jiwan Mountain provides weakly alkaline spring water.

Bama Lifelong, a leading Chinese mineral water brand, finds a global market with its products. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Supported by policies and the establishment of the Bama Mineral Water Research Institute, the industry underwent significant development. In 2024, the output value of Hechi's bottled water sector exceeded 1.5 billion yuan, with Bama natural drinking water accounting for 1.03 billion yuan.

Its water also fuels a premium liquor industry. In Nandan county, underground cave water rich in activated small molecular clusters provides ideal conditions for brewing.

Guangxi Danquan Liquor Company has invested over 10 billion yuan to build an eco-brewery, alongside four 4A-level tourist attractions and five high-star hotels, creating a distinctive liquor-tourism model. The liquor industry's output value grew from 1.43 billion yuan in 2019 to 4.488 billion yuan in 2023, averaging 33 percent annual growth.

Visitors immerse themselves in the depth of Chinese liquor culture through a multi-sensory experience of sight, smell, taste, and touch. [Photo/Hechi Daily]