Xuzhou, also known as "Xu" (Pengguo, Pengcheng, and Zhuolu), is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province and a sub-provincial central city of Jiangsu Province. It is designated a National Historic and Cultural City by the State Council, a national comprehensive transportation hub, and the central city of the Huaihai Economic Zone. As of July 2024, Xuzhou governs five districts, three counties, and administers two county-level cities, covering a total area of 11,765 square kilometers. By the end of 2024, Xuzhou's permanent population was 9.01 million.
Xuzhou City is located in the southern North China Plain and northern Jiangsu Province. The Grand Canal passes through the city, and the Longhai and Beijing-Shanghai Railways converge here. Known as the "Crossroads of Five Provinces," Xuzhou is a key gateway city in East China and a major center for the region's economy, science, education, culture, finance, healthcare, and foreign trade. It is also a key node city in the Belt and Road Initiative, a national innovation demonstration zone for the Sustainable Development Agenda, a sub-center city in the northern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, and a core city in the Xuzhou Metropolitan Area. It is known as the "China Construction Machinery Capital."