Luliang Travel Guide

English Name: Luliang, Lvliang, Lüliang, Lyuliang
Chinese Name: 吕梁 (lǚ liáng)
Population: 3,890,000
Area: 21,143 square kilometers (8,163 square miles)
Location: in the west-central of Shanxi Province, north China
Administrative Division: 1 district (Lishi); 10 counties (Wenshui, Zhongyang, Xingxian, Linxian, Fangshan, Liulin, Lanxian, Jiaokou, Jiaocheng, Shilou); 2 county-level cities (Xiaoyi, Fenyang)
Area Code: 0358
Zip Code: 033000
GDP (2019): CNY 151.21 billion (USD 21.92 billion)  

Luliang is in the west-central of Shanxi Province and neighbors Taiyuan and Jinzhong to the east and Linfen and Xinzhou to the south and north. The Yellow River separates it from Shaanxi Province to the west. Lishi District is the political, economic and cultural center of the city. Luliang is famous for producing high-quality fen-flavor liquor with Fenjiu and Zhuyeqing as two widely-known liquor brands at home and abroad. This city also features beautiful natural landscapes, abundant cultural and historic sites. North Wudang Mountain is famous for its magnificent, steep mountains and strange rocks. And visitors can see ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1912) including exchange shops, pawnshops, temples, traditional residences and docks in Qikou Old Town.

 North Wudang Mountain: Also Zhenwu Mountain, it was known as Longwang (Dragon King) Mountain. It is located in Fangshan County, 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of downtown Luliang. In the scenic area, there are in total seventy-two peaks, thirty-six cliffs and twenty-four gullies. Like a pearl inlaid on the middle section of the Luliang Mountains, North Wudang Mountain is one of the most famous Taoist shrines in Northern China. 

 Qikou Old Town: It is an unsophisticated old town on the east bank of the Yellow River. It was once in prosperity during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The town rose in the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and acted as a vital trading township in North China during the following two hundred years. Old streets and resident building expose a profound aura of antiquity that would not be found in any metropolis. 

 Xuanzhong Temple: It is the birthplace of the Pure Land Sect of Chinese Buddhism, located in the Shibi Mountain, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of Jiaocheng county seat.

Luliang Dawu Airport is in Dawu Town, Fangshan County. Passengers can go to more than 10 domestic cities directly from the airport including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Dalian... At present, passenger trains passing through Luliang will make a stop in the railway station in Xiaoyi City. Lishi Bus Station is the traffic hub of Luliang City, operating buses to Taiyuan and other regions around. Expressway connects Luliang and Taiyuan shortening the distance between the two cities to a mere two hours.

Enjoying a temperate continental monsoon climate, the city has four distinct seasons, dry and windy spring, sultry and rainy summer, cool winter and chilly winter. The average temperature of Luliang weather in January falls between -9.7 and -4.9 degree centigrade (14.5-23.2 degree Fahrenheit). About sixty percent of the rainfall is during June to August. May to October is the most favorable for traveling to the area.

 History: Administrative organization in this area was first established in the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In 376BC, present-day Shanxi was divided into three parts among the Han, Zhao and Wei kingdoms, with Luliang belonging to Zhao. Prior to this it had been part of the territory of Taiyuan Shire for hundreds of years. This city was derived from Luliang Region in 2003.

 Physical Features: The area lies adjacent to the Yellow River in the west and Yaiyuan Plain in the east. The Luliang Mountains stretch north-south through the city. The terrain in Jiaocheng, Wenshui, Fenyang and Xiaoyi is generally flat and smooth. They are in the edge of the Taiyuan Basin, being the main farming area of the city.