Improved transport making regions richer

More development pillars

Li said that during the past few years in constructing roads in Liuzhi, he has come to see that the district awaits more pillars to boost its socioeconomic progress.

With the opening of the Nayong-Qinglong Expressway on Sept 26, 2025 and the Liuzhi-Anlong Expressway on Sept 28, 2025, Liuzhi is able to usher in diverse industries.

Besides agricultural output, Liuzhi is rich in over 20 types of mineral resources, including coal, iron, sulfur and limestone, with confirmed coal reserves reaching 3.3 billion tons, as well as abundant coalbed methane deposits hitting some 65 billion cubic meters, Li said.

By focusing on "six major industrial chains", the whole district strives to earn more than 30 billion yuan from coal chemicals, over 30 billion yuan for new energy battery and material bases, and over 5 billion yuan for fluorine chemical bases by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, Yao said.

Last year, Liuzhi's coal production increased by 34.85 percent compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period.

This year, Liuzhi will continue boosting its coal industry, focusing on expanding its current production capacity, and developing more mining areas, Yao said.

By 2030, the total economic output in Liuzhi is expected to hit 28 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 6 percent, Yao said.

That's why Liuzhi is so eager to see the expansion of local traffic network, Li said.

Rich tourism resources

Yin Shigang, Party secretary of the CREC4 project department in building the Anshun-Panzhou expressway, said Liuzhi has garnered such titles as "China's Most Beautiful Leisure Resort" and "China's Ecological Charm City" with its beautiful mountains and rivers.

Set up in the 1960s with a total area of 1,792 square kilometers, Yin said Liuzhi is the core area of the ancient Yelang Kingdom — a tribal region composed of many tribes during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), and its unique tourism integrates ethnic cultural customs, natural scenery and renowned historical sites.

Figures show that between 2021 and 2025, the district's tourism sector greeted 49 million tourists, generating revenue of 70.617 billion yuan.

With the forthcoming opening of the Anshun-Panzhou expressway, the development of Liuzhi's tourism will be faster, Yin said.

Earlier this year, Zhou Huabao drove his family from his hometown in nearby Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region for a visit to Liuzhi.

They made trips to Yanjiao ancient town, Suojia Miao ethnic ecomuseum in Suojia town, and Niuchang, attending special folk activities such as the June 6 Buyi ethnic event.

"The scenic spots in Liuzhi are very interesting," Zhou said, noting how they made a lasting and positive impression on him.

Liuzhi magistrate Yao said that with the expected operation of the Anshun-Panzhou expressway, the district will further promote the integrated development of tourism and strive to achieve a 5 percent year-on-year hike in tourism consumption.

Yin said as Liuzhi is a picturesque place with more than 40 rivers and streams, and high mountains, protecting the local environment has been a priority for them while constructing the expressway.

"During our construction work, we tried our best to maintain the original natural terrain, minimizing the impact of construction on the environment," Yin said.

Yin worked with over 2,400 employees, including 215 local ethnic minority workers who are glad with the new expressway in their hometown.