Survey of Liuzhou

Liuzhou is a key industrial city in southwest China and the biggest industrial base in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The city has already set up more than 2,500 enterprises, covering over 30 industries. It currently owns 11 large-scale enterprises, 4 of which are among Top 500 in China. A modern industry system in Liuzhou has taken shape, which is characterized by the co-existence of traditional industries, including pharmacy, chemical products, papermaking, sugaring, building materials, and textile, and the modern pillar industries, such as automobile, machinery, and metallurgy. There arise quite a few enterprises and famous brand products with strong competition ability and high market share in domestic and international markets, including the medium-duty truck of Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co., Ltd., mini-car of SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd., loader of Liuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd., herbal toothpaste of Liuzhou LMZ Co., Ltd., and so on. Liuzhou holds an important position in China’s auto industry, which can be inferred from the unique distribution of China’s auto industry, i.e. the three largest auto groups (China FAW Group Corporation, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, and Shanghai General Motors), have established their production bases in Liuzhou.

Liuzhou is an important transport hub in southwest China. The railway network connects such provinces and municipalities as Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, etc. The well developed highway network extending in all directions. It takes about 4 hours from Liuzhou to south coastal ports by highway. Liuzhou Bailian Airport is built in line with the 4D national standard and has opened flight lines to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and many other cities.

Liuzhou is an important commodity exchange market and the centre of logistics and transportation in China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. With Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao to its east, Beibu Gulf to the south, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan to the west, and the middle and lower reaches of Yangzi River to the north, Liuzhou is a place connecting east coastal cities, south China, and southeast Asian. Liuzhou has been carrying out a great number of trade activities since the ancient time, which earns it the title as “commercial port in central Guangxi”. It possesses the geographical advantage to develop market, trade and commerce, commodity circulation, and to be a center of modern logistics.

Liuzhou is a renowned city with long history, abundant culture and humanities landscapes in China. The city was founded in 111 BC, and in the first year of the reign of Emperor Tianbao of the Tang dynasty the city was named Longcheng which means "Dragon City". This name is variously ascribed to the river resembling a dragon curled around the city or to a legend in which it is said that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), eight dragons emerged from the Liujiang River. In 1736, the city was renamed Liuzhou, which is roughly translated as “the place of the willow trees”. Liuzhou is the last habitat of Liu Zongyuan, who is a famous litterateur and politician in Tang Dynasty. He was appointed as a prefectural governor of Liuzhou. In memory of Liu Zongyuan, Liuhou Ci Temple, Cenotaph of Liu and stone inscriptions in past dynasties were made and have been well preserving in Liuhou Park.

It is one of excellent tourist cities in China. The unique Karst topography brought up its picturesque scene of “green hills, clear waters, strange caves and beautiful stones”. Liuzhou possesses the naturally endowed fantastic stone resources and has always been enjoying the reputation of “Stone Capital” and “the fantastic stones of Liuzhou are the best under heaven”. According to the legend, Liuzhou is the place where the Zhuang Female singer Liu Sanjie sang folk songs. This is a simple, honest, and hospitable homeland full of mystery and charm. The Zhuang’s songs, the Yao’s dances, the Miao’s festivals and the Dong’s drum towers are rated as the “Four Wonders of Liuzhou”.

In addition, the former residence of Vietnam former national leader Ho Chi Minh in Liuzhou is a key relic under provincial protection. It is a two-storey Chinese style building made of bricks and wood, which is opposite to the beautiful Yufeng Hill. While in Liuzhou, Ho conducted a number of revolutionary activities from August 1942 to September 1944. The residence was renovated in 2003. At present, it is well protected and open to the public.

Since China’s reform and opening to the outside world, Liuzhou City has been successively enlisted as the national experimental city of the earliest comprehensive reform in China, of comprehensive scientific and technical systems, of optimized capital structure, and of technical innovation. It is also a national first-class customs port. In 2002, the UNDP appointed Liuzhou as China’s experimental city of city planning, management and development in the 21st century. At present, Liuzhou has not only formed an all-dimensional, multi-tiered and wide-ranging opening pattern in the main, but also established economic and trade relations with over 45 countries and regions. Liuzhou people warmly welcome friends from all over the world.