Liupanshui (六盘水)

1. Introduction

Liupanshui City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China, located in the western part of Guizhou Province. The city borders Anshun City to the east, Qianxinan Prefecture to the south, Qujing City in Yunnan Province to the west, and Bijie City to the north. Situated in the Wumeng Mountain area at the junction of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, it lies on the watershed between the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River, along the banks of the Nanpan River and Beipan River basins, and is rich in mineral resources. The city covers a total area of 9,965 square kilometers, with a population of 3.4 million. The municipal government is located in Zhongshan District. Due to its pleasant climate, Liupanshui City is known as the "Cool Capital of China."

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2. History

The name "Liupanshui" is derived from the first characters of its originally administered three special districts: Liuzhi, Panxian, and Shuicheng. It is an energy and raw materials industrial city that developed during the "Third Front Construction" period and was officially established as a city with the approval of the State Council on December 18, 1978.

In June 1964, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to develop the coal resources in the three counties of Liuzhi, Panxian, and Shuicheng. In November of the same year, the Southwest Coal Mine Construction Headquarters was established, with its office located in Liuzhi. In 1966, eight communes were carved out from Liuzhi County, Puding County, and Zhenning County to form the Liuzhi Special District, while Liuzhi County was renamed back to Langdai County. Ten communes were carved out from Panxian County and Xuanwei County of Yunnan Province to form the Panxian Special District. Ten communes were carved out from Shuicheng County and Weining County to form the Shuicheng Special District.

In 1967, the Southwest Coal Mine Construction Headquarters relocated to Shuicheng. In December 1970, Langdai County from the Anshun Prefecture was merged into the Liuzhi Special District, Shuicheng County from the Bijie Prefecture was merged into the Shuicheng Special District, and Panxian County from the Xingyi Prefecture was merged into the Panxian Special District, forming the Liupanshui Prefecture, and the Coal Mine Construction Headquarters was abolished.

In December 1978, the Liupanshui Prefecture was abolished and replaced by Liupanshui City, with its administrative seat in the Shuicheng Special District, governing the three special districts of Shuicheng, Liuzhi, and Panxian. In December 1987, the Shuicheng Special District was abolished and divided into Zhongshan District and Shuicheng County, with the municipal government located in Zhongshan District. In February 1999, the Panxian Special District was abolished and Panxian County was established. In April 2017, Panxian County was abolished and the county-level Panzhou City was established.

3. Geography

The highest point above sea level is Jiucaiping at 2,900.3 meters, known as the "Roof of Guizhou"; the lowest point is at an elevation of 586 meters. The average elevation within the area ranges between 1,400 and 1,900 meters. The annual average temperature is 13-14°C, featuring warm winters and cool summers, with a pleasant climate. In 2005, it was named "China's Cool City" by the China Meteorological Association.

3.1 Location

Liupanshui is located in the western part of Guizhou Province, on the slope of the first and second terraces of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It spans from 25°19'44" N to 26°55'33" N and 104°18'20" E to 105°42'50" E. Situated within the borders of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, it is approximately 300-500 kilometers away from the five provincial capital cities of Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guiyang, and Nanning. The total area is 9,965 square kilometers, accounting for 5.63% of the province's total area. The city borders Anshun City to the east, Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture to the south, Qujing City of Yunnan Province to the west, and Bijie City to the north. The towns of Dawan, Ertang, and Sanhe in Zhongshan District are enclaves embedded in the southwestern part of Bijie City. As of 2012, the built-up area of the city center covered 60 square kilometers, with an urban population of 600,000 and an urbanization rate of 40%.

3.2 Topography

The geotectonic structure of the city belongs to the Upper Yangtze Platform Fold Belt of the Yangtze Paraplatform. It is located at the extreme western edge of several structural units within the Upper Yangtze Platform Fold Belt (a II-level structure) of the Yangtze Paraplatform (a I-level structure), including the Weining-Shuicheng Subsidence-Fold Bundle, the Southwest Guizhou Subsidence-Fold-Fault Bundle, the Central Guizhou Early Paleozoic Arch-Fold-Fault Bundle, and the Southern Guizhou Paleo-Subsidence Fold-Fault Bundle. The terrain is generally higher in the west and north, and lower in the east and south. The central area experiences dramatic relief due to the intense cutting and erosion by the Beipan River. Elevations in most areas range between 1,400 and 1,900 meters. The highest point is in Dawan Town, Zhongshan District, at 2,845.7 meters above sea level; the lowest point is in the Beipan River valley in Maokou Township, Liuzhi Special District, at 586 meters. The relative height difference is 2,259.7 meters. The landscape is predominantly mountainous and hilly, but also includes basin, plateau, highland, and mesa landform types.

The main soil types include 8 categories: yellow earth, mountain yellow-brown earth, mountain shrub-meadow soil, limestone soil, purple soil, paddy soil, fluvo-aquic soil, and bog soil. These are further divided into 24 subcategories, 74 soil families, and 141 soil species. The soil area covers 9.3303 million mu, accounting for 62.74% of the total land area. Yellow earth is the zonal soil type within the area, covering 4.2232 million mu, which is 50.62% of the total soil area.

3.3 Climate

The city falls within the northern subtropical monsoon climate zone. Influenced by its low latitude and high altitude, it enjoys warm winters and cool summers with a pleasant climate. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,200 to 1,500 millimeters. The frost-free period lasts 200 to 300 days. Due to significant topographic variations, local climatic differences are pronounced.

Liupanshui possesses unique climatic resources. With the highest elevation at 2,900.6 meters and the lowest at 586 meters, it exhibits distinct vertical climate zones. Winters are not severely cold, and summers are not intensely hot. The annual average temperature is 15°C, with a summer average of 19.7°C and a winter average of 3°C. The climate is cool, comfortable, moist, and fresh, with moderate ultraviolet radiation. It was awarded the title "China's Cool City" by the China Meteorological Society, making it the only city in China named after a climatic feature.

Long-term Meteorological Data for Liupanshui City Center

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Avg High (℃ / °F) | 7.4 (45.3) | 9.2 (48.6) | 15.1 (59.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 21.5 (70.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.3 (75.7) | 21.3 (70.3) | 17.2 (63.0) | 13.1 (55.6) | 9.5 (49.1) | 17.1 (62.8) | | Daily Mean (℃ / °F) | 3.1 (37.6) | 4.8 (40.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 16.5 (61.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 16.6 (61.9) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 4.9 (40.8) | 12.3 (54.1) | | Avg Low (℃ / °F) | 0.3 (32.5) | 1.6 (34.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 9.4 (48.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 15.1 (59.2) | 16.6 (61.9) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.5 (56.3) | 10.2 (50.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | 1.8 (35.2) | 9.0 (48.2) | | Avg Monthly Sunshine (hours) | 85.0 | 89.3 | 142.5 | 157.5 | 143.9 | 117.6 | 162.0 | 168.4 | 122.2 | 94.5 | 94.3 | 95.1 | 1,472.3 |

3.4 Hydrology

Liupanshui City is situated in the watershed area between the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins, roughly demarcated by the Yunnan-Guizhou Railway. The area north of this line belongs to the Wujiang River system of the Yangtze River basin, while the area south belongs to the Pearl River basin. Within the city, the Wujiang River system is represented by the Sancha River as its main stream, located in the northern region, including parts of Shuicheng County, Liuzhi Special District, and Zhongshan District. The Pearl River basin is represented by the Beipan River as its main stream, which traverses the central part of the city from west to east. Tributaries of the Nanpan River are distributed along the southern edge.

The city's total water volume is approximately 14.218 billion cubic meters. This includes an average annual surface water runoff of 6.4 billion cubic meters, an average annual groundwater runoff of 5.268 billion cubic meters, and 2.55 billion cubic meters of surface water (excluding boundary river water). There are 71 rivers within the city that are over 10 kilometers long or have a catchment area exceeding 20 square kilometers. Among these, 14 belong to the Wujiang River system and 57 to the Pearl River system. Classified by catchment area: 24 rivers have areas of 10–50 km², 19 have 51–100 km², 19 have 101–500 km², 3 have 501–1,000 km², and 6 have over 1,001 km². The river network density is 0.167 kilometers per square kilometer. Apart from several main streams, most rivers in the area are rain-fed, characterized by limited sources and short flows, often drying up during the dry season.

3.5 Mineral Resources

Liupanshui is rich in mineral resources. It possesses over 30 types of mineral resources including coal, iron, manganese, zinc, and basalt. The prospective coal reserves are estimated at 84.4 billion tons, with proven reserves of 22.137 billion tons. The coal is notable for its large reserves, complete variety, and high quality. The area is a significant part of China's "14 Major Coal Bases" and is the largest coking coal base south of the Yangtze River, earning it the nickname "Coal Capital South of the Yangtze." The coalbed methane resource reserves amount to 1.42 trillion cubic meters.

4. Administrative Divisions

Liupanshui City administers 2 municipal districts, 1 special district, and manages 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Zhongshan District, Shuicheng District
• Special District: Liuzhi Special District
• County-level City: Panzhou City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Including: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|--------------------------------| | 522200 | Liupanshui City | Liùpánshuǐ Shì | 9,914.49 | 3,031,602 | Zhongshan District | 553000 | 22 | 39 | 26 | 25 | | 522201 | Zhongshan District | Zhōngshān Qū | 1,060.10 | 674,249 | Fenghuang Subdistrict | 553000 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | | 522203 | Liuzhi Special District | Liùzhī Tèqū | 1,799.48 | 536,873 | Jiulong Subdistrict | 553400 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 5 | | 522204 | Shuicheng District | Shuǐchéng Qū | 3,014.87 | 746,407 | Shuangshui Subdistrict | 553000 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 10 | | 522281 | Panzhou City | Pánzhōu Shì | 4,040.05 | 1,074,073 | Yizi Subdistrict | 553500 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 7 |

5. Economy

In terms of economic development, Liupanshui City ranks second in Guizhou Province in terms of per capita GDP, second only to Guiyang City. It is also the second of only three cities in Guizhou Province with a per capita GDP exceeding ten thousand yuan. In 2015, the city's GDP growth rate ranked ninth in the province, and its urban competitiveness is among the top 200 cities in China.

Liupanshui is the largest coal resource base among the 14 provinces and cities south of the Yangtze River in China, as well as an important coal and steel industrial base in the Jiangnan region, earning it the title "Coal Capital of Jiangnan." It is a key component of the "Panzhihua–Liupanshui Resource Comprehensive Development Zone" designated by the state, a region prioritized for national land and resource development, and an important node city in the Nanning–Guiyang–Kunming economic belt under the national Western Development Strategy.

Liupanshui is a major city in the national "West-to-East Electricity Transmission" project and an important energy and raw material industrial base in southwestern China and even the South China region. Key economic sectors in the city include coal, electricity, metallurgy, building materials, and biopharmaceuticals. Local specialties include wind-cured pork, kiwifruit, eucommia bark, gastrodia tuber, and walnuts.

Dalian is the city designated by the state to provide counterpart assistance to Liupanshui.

6. Transportation

6.1 Highways

• G56 Hangrui Expressway, G60 Hukun Expressway
• National Highway 356

6.2 Railways

The transit railways include the Hukun Railway, Neikun Railway, Shuihong Railway, Weihong Railway, Panxi Railway, Hukun Passenger Dedicated Line (High-Speed Railway), and Anliu Intercity Railway.

6.3 Aviation

• Liupanshui Yue Zhao Airport

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7. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population is 3,031,602. Compared with the 2,851,332 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 180,270 people over the past ten years, representing a growth of 6.32%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.61%. Among them, the male population is 1,556,454, accounting for 51.34% of the total population; the female population is 1,475,148, accounting for 48.66% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) is 105.51. The population aged 0–14 is 797,154, accounting for 26.29% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 is 1,824,560, accounting for 60.18% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above is 409,888, accounting for 13.52% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above is 300,112, accounting for 9.9% of the total population. The urban population is 1,481,555, accounting for 48.87% of the total population; the rural population is 1,550,047, accounting for 51.13% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population is 2,201,109, accounting for 72.61%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities is 830,493, accounting for 27.39%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 75,203, a growth of 3.54%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 1.95 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 105,067, a growth of 14.48%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 1.95 percentage points. Among them, the Yi ethnic group population increased by 31,839, a growth of 12.65%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.53 percentage points; the Miao ethnic group population increased by 31,013, a growth of 15.64%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.61 percentage points.

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8. Culture

Liupanshui boasts a variety of delicious local snacks, particularly famous for its lamb rice noodles, lamb hot pot, and Laoguo Yangyu ("Yangyu" refers to potatoes).

The city is home to several ethnic minority festivals, such as the Flower Dance Festival of the Miao people and the Torch Festival of the Yi people.

Since 2004, the Cool City Summer Cultural Festival has been held every August. With its rich array of activities, it is the largest and most influential cultural event in Liupanshui.

The area of present-day Liupanshui was an important habitat for ancient humans in prehistoric times. The early Homo sapiens discovered in Guizhou Province are primarily distributed within Liupanshui. A human tooth fossil unearthed at the Panxian Dadong site, dating back over 200,000 years, exhibits transitional features from Homo erectus to early Homo sapiens and has been named "Dadong Man." The stone artifacts unearthed at Dadong display Levallois-like techniques. A human tooth fossil with early Homo sapiens characteristics, dating back 80,000 years, was unearthed at the Shuicheng Xiaohui Cave and named "Shuicheng Man." The stone artifacts from Xiaohui Cave were crafted using the "sharp-edge percussion technique." The Taohua Cave in Liuzhi yielded a femur fossil of the late Homo sapiens "Taohua Cave Man," dating back over 10,000 years, along with cultural relics such as stone artifacts made with the "sharp-edge percussion technique" and perforated shells. The upper layers also yielded pottery shards, pottery spindle whorls, and polished stone axes.

9. Sister Cities

• Beihai City, Guangxi, China
• Zhanjiang City, Guangdong, China
• Leshan City, Sichuan, China
• Dalian City, Liaoning, China
• Tucson, Arizona, USA

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Taking the first characters of the three subordinate counties (Liuzhi, Panxian, Shuicheng)

Zhongshan District

Shuicheng District

The Han population accounts for 72.61%; the various ethnic minority populations account for 27.39%.

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