Xuzhou, otherwise known as
Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest
prefecture-level city of
Jiangsu Province, China. Its population was 8,577,225 at the 2010 census whom 2,623,066 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of Quanshan, Gulou, Yunlong and Tongshan districts. It is known for its role as a transportation hub in northwestern Jiangsu, as it has
expressways and
railway links connecting directly to the provinces of
Henan and
Shandong, the neighboring port city of
Lianyungang, as well as the economic hub
Shanghai.