OP, most of the follow-up is right on. To further enlighten you on Liuzhou, it's an industrial area and so do not expect to see blue skies at any time there. Also, there've been reports out of the outskirts of the city about contaminated drinking water...pretty polluted area for sure. However, if the pay is right and you are to stay only for that one year and as a single man...wouldn't be too bad, would it?

Cheers and beers to all singles as well as married with children on mainland