Liuzhou

Introduction of Liuzhou

Liuzhou, also known as Dragon City, is located in the north central part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region. As a regional center and transportation hub, Liuzhou pursues integrated development with industry being its main driven force. Liuzhou is also a renowned historic and cultural city with unique landscape.

In 2020, Liuzhou has 4.15 million permanent residents, including 44 ethnic groups such as Han, Zhuang, Miao, Yao and Dong. In 2020, the city's GDP reached 317.69 billion yuan, with its per capita GDP exceeding 10,000 US dollars. Liuzhou, with 1/13 area and 1/12 population of Guangxi, has created 1/7 of the region's total economic output, 1/4 of its industrial output and 1/7 of its fiscal revenue. In one word, the city is of great strategic significance in Guangxi.

Industry

Liuzhou is a famous industrial city with automobile industry being the first pillar. The value of the city's automobile industry ranks third nationwide among cities with annual output of more than 1 million vehicles. Liuzhou is the only prefecture-level city in China with full-range vehicle manufacturing enterprises. GM, SAIC, DFAC, FAW, CNHTC and other auto giants have invested in Liuzhou for business cooperation. Wuling minivan has maintained the leading market share of its kind nationwide for several years in a row.

In terms of metallurgical industry, Liuzhou Steel Group is the largest iron and steel company in the south and southwest of China, and is listed among the top 500 Chinese enterprises. In terms of machinery manufacturing, Liuzhou has a number of backbone enterprises, such as LiuGong Machinery, OVM and Liuzhou ZF Machinery. As one of the world's top 50 engineering machinery enterprises, LiuGong Machinery has led the global market in the output and sales of loaders for many years. OVM's prestressed anchor has maintained leading position in domestic market.

Livable environment

Encircled by lush mountains and meandering river, Liuzhou enjoys a reputation as the "World's Best Natural Bonsai". The city lives up to its reputation as "Garden City" for its beautiful blossoms of 270,000 bauhinia trees across the city in Spring.

The Liujiang River stretches 108 kilometers through the city. Night cruise down the river has become immensely popular among tourists as it offers a great view of the city's illumination displays and the world's largest cityscape waterfalls.

Liuzhou boasts many bridges, and 22 cross-river bridges has been completed and opened to traffic. These bridges have a broad age spectrum and each represents China's up-to-date bridge building technology at that time. Therefore, Liuzhou is recognized as the "Bridge Museum".

Culture

Liuzhou is famous for its rare stones and is recognized as the "capital of rare stones in China". Liuzhou has held the International Water Carnival for 11 consecutive years, attracting numerous people from home and abroad. The International Aquatic-Speed Competition has thrilled audiences. Luosifen or river snail rice noodles, which tops the list of Liuzhou cuisine, tickles diners' taste buds. The Carnival Parade, Beer & Music Festival and Water Carnival have made guests linger on in the city. In recent years, the newly added cultural exchange week between cities has promoted cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Liuzhou and foreign cities.

Liuzhou is home to 58 various museums, ranging from national museums to distinctive private theme museums. Wooden architecture techniques and grand folk songs of the Dong ethnic group, the Pohui Festival (a series of traditional gathering for entertainment at slopes) of the Miao ethnic group in Rongshui County and Caidiao (a local traditional drama), are included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.

Ethnic customs

Liuzhou is a city with rich ethnic characteristics. It is known as the hometown of Liu Sanjie (a legendary female folk singer in Guangxi), where folk songs are heard throughout streets and alleys. Folk songs of the Zhuang ethnic group, dances of the Yao ethnic group, festivals of the Miao ethnic group and buildings of the Dong ethnic group, are deemed as the four most characteristic ethnic cultures of Liuzhou. Architectures with ethnic characteristics, such as wind and rain bridge or shelter bridge, and drum tower, are well-known at home and abroad. For instance, the wind and rain bridge in Chengyang Bazhai, a long-established Dong village located in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County of Liuzhou, is recognized as one of the world's top 10 famous bridges.

About 80 percent of Guangxi's scenic spots of national 4A level or above are located within a 250-kilometer radius of Liuzhou. The city boasts splendid and colorful ethnic cultures, which are embodied in numerous unique ethnic customs such as the Duoye Festival, zuomei (courtship by songs), making oil-tea, hosting baijiayan (feast served by a hundred families), Firecrackers Festival, playing the Lusheng (a folk musical instrument made of bamboo pipes), and horse fighting.

International exchanges

So far, Liuzhou has established friendly relations with 8 international cities, including Passau in Germany, Cincinnati in the US, N'Djamena in Chad, Muntinlupa in the Philippines, Vinh Yen in Vietnam, Bandung in Indonesia, Rayong in Thailand and Ami Town in Japan. Liuzhou has enhanced exchanges with its sister cities in many sectors such as culture, trade, health, sports, tourism, etc.