Liuzhou

Liuzhou (/ljuːˈdʒoʊ/;[3] Chinese: 柳州, IPA Pronunciation:[ljòʊ.ʈʂóʊ]) is a prefecture-level city in north-central Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. The prefecture's population was 4,157,934 as of 2020 census,[4] including 2,519,051 in the built-up area made of five urban districts. Its total area is 18,594 km2 (7,179 sq mi) and 3,559.4 km2 (1,374.3 sq mi) for the built-up area. Liuzhou is located on the banks of the winding Liu River, approximately 255 km (158 mi) from Nanning, the regional capital. By road, it is about 167 km (104 mi) to Guilin, 167 km (104 mi) to Hechi, 237 km (147 mi) to Nanning, 373 km (232 mi) to Fangchenggang, 448 km (278 mi) to Beihai. Swimming in the river is a tradition of the city. The river is normally green, but sometimes in summer, floods from the mountain areas upstream bring sediment which colors the water yellow. In early 2012, a cadmium spill upstream caused serious pollution worries.[5]