Luzhou (Chinese: 泸州; pinyin: Lúzhōu; Sichuanese Pinyin: Nu2zou1; Luzhou dialect: [nu˨˩tsəu˥]), formly transliterated as Lu-chou or Luchow, is a major city located in the southeast of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. The city, called as Jiangyang until the realm of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, is known as "wine city". Situated on the confluence of the Tuo River and the Yangtze River, Luzhou is not only the one of the most important ports in the upper reaches of Yangtze river, but also the largest port in both size and outpu in Sichuan province, since Chongqing was seceded from Sichuan province in 1997.