Guangxi is a self governing region of the People 's Republic of China where mostly Zhuang people live . Being in the far south , Guangxi was not taken by communist forces until after the People 's Republic was formed ; it joined in December 1949 , two months after the People 's Republic 's foundation . In 1958 , Guangxi was converted into an autonomous region for the Zhuang , by recommendation of Premier Zhou Enlai .