Liu Yan declared himself emperor, establishing the state of Southern Han at his capital of Panyu (present-day Guangzhou) in southern China. Liu Yan (emperor): Liu Yan, né Liu Yan (劉巖), also named Liu Zhi (劉陟) and briefly as Liu Gong (劉龔), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Southern Han (南漢高祖), was the first emperor of the Chinese Southern Han dynasty, one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. September 5, 917. Wiki link