City view

Liuzhou (simplified Chinese: 柳州; pinyin: liǔ zhōu, Zhuang: Liujcouh) is a prefecture-level city in north-central Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in southern China. Population: 3.6 million. Area: 18,667 km². Liuzhou is located on the banks of the winding Liu River, approximately 255 km from Nanning, the provincial capital. Liuzhou is 1,852 kilometres from Beijing, 1,415 km from Shanghai and 537 km from Hong Kong. Swimming in the river is a tradition of the city. In summer, floods from the mountain areas upstream bring sediment which colors the water yellow. Liuzhou has a history of more than 2,100 years. The city was founded in 111 B.C. when it was known as Tanzhong. In 742 A.D. it became known as Longcheng (Dragon City), before finally changing to Liuzhou in 1736. The most famous historic figure is Liu Zongyuan (773-819), who was a poet and politician in the Tang Dynasty and who died in Liuzhou. He is commemorated by a park in the city.