It is located in the northern part of Xuzhou and adjacent to the prefecture-level city of Zaozhuang, Shandong in the north.

Its economy was overwhelmingly dependent on coal, but in 2016[citation needed], the last local mine closed.

Similar as Xuhui District for Xujiahui in Shanghai, Jiajiawang was simplified as Jiawang then.

Later, according to Zuo Zongtang's request, local official Hu Jingzhi invited Hu Enxie, another official from Nanjing, to undertake the mining project in 1881, and a British mining engineer was hired for prospecting in the next year.

Guanguo raised capital by floating shares, but the limited company he founded failed soon.