Shaoxing

Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city located in northeastern Zhejiang province, China.

It sits on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay and near the Qiantang River estuary. The city is surrounded by several other major areas. Ningbo lies to the east, while Taizhou is to the southeast. Jinhua is located to the southwest, and Hangzhou sits to the west. This geography makes it a key part of a large, connected region.

The population of Shaoxing is quite large. According to the 2020 census, the city had 5,270,977 inhabitants. A much larger group lives in the connected Hangzhou–Shaoxing metro area. That total number reaches 13,035,326 people. Within the city, many residents live in the urban districts of Keqiao, Yuecheng, and Shangyu. This high density of people supports a very active economy and culture.

Shaoxing has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Long ago, the Kuaiji Mountains were a center for the Yue people.

Ancient legends connect these mountains to Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia dynasty. Around the 5th century BC, people began building permanent settlements on the alluvial plain north of the hills. King Goujian even ordered a large triangular fortification in what is now the Yuecheng District. Later, the First Emperor of the Qin Empire visited Mount Kuaiji in 210 BC. He climbed Mount Xianglu to make sacrifices to the spirit of Yu.

The city received its current name, Shaoxing, in 1131 A.D. during the Southern Song dynasty. The name honors the reign period of Emperor Gaozong of Song. It is a poetic term that means "inheriting the imperial task and resurging to prosperity."

Before this, the area was known as Kuaiji. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the region was organized into eight different counties. This included urban Kuaiji and Shanyin, as well as rural Yuyao, Zhuji, Xiaoshan, Shangyu, Xinchang, and Cheng. Over time, the modern municipality has changed its borders. It lost the Xiaoshan county to Hangzhou and the Yuyao county to Ningbo.

Shaoxing is famous for a unique social network known as a "vertical clique." During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many natives of Shaoxing held important roles in the Chinese government. They often worked together due to their loyalty to their home region. This group included high-ranking officials and legal experts called *shaoxing shiye*. These experts were highly valued because they knew the complex Qing legal code. They acted as essential advisers to officials who were trained in Confucian Classics. This network helped Shaoxing maintain significant influence within the national bureaucracy.

The city is also a center for traditional culture and food. It is famous for Shaoxing wine, a type of Chinese rice wine.

This wine uses pure water from the Jianhu-Mirror Lake to create its unique flavor. The China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corporation produces 110,000 tons of this wine every year. Visitors also enjoy local foods like meigan cai and stinky tofu. In the arts, Yue opera is very popular. It is sung in the local dialect and is the second most popular opera in China.

There are many historical sites that connect the city to famous people. The writer Lu Xun was born and raised in Shaoxing. You can visit his native place or the Sanwei School where he studied.

The city also holds the Orchid Pavilion, which honors the calligrapher Wang Xizhi. Other notable sites include the Shen Garden and the Green Vine Studio. For natural beauty, people visit the Keyan Scenic Area or the boats at Donghu lake.

Today, Shaoxing is a major driver of modern manufacturing. The city's economy relies on textiles, electronics, and energy-efficient lighting. The Zhejiang province has the fifth highest per capita GDP in China. Within that province, Shaoxing ranks 32nd nationally for its GDP per capita. The city also hosts international events, such as the World Choir Games in 2010. This mix of ancient tradition and modern industry defines the city today.