 As a prefecture-level city with an area of , Liupanshui had a total population of over 2,830,000 in 2006, making it the second largest in the province, though only 251,900 inhabitants were urban residents.The city is known locally as "The Cool City" or "Cool Capital" due to its low average summer temperature.The general area is significant as the seat of the historic Yelang political entity, a confederation of tribes that dominated parts of modern-day Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.