History of Shaoxing
Shaoxing dates back to immemorial times. In the Neolithic Age, human beings lived and worked in the area. The city of Shaoxing is one of the first 24 famous historic-cultural cities of China announced by the State Council of China. In 2070 B.C., Yu the Great gathered and awarded hundreds of officers in Kuaiji Mountain of Shaoxing and then set up the first dynasty Xia Dynasty in Chinese history. During the Age of Spring and Autumn, about 2500 years ago, Yue State located its capital in Shaoxing. Shaoxing now has historical sites left over by Shun and Yu, two great emperors in legends in the dawning days of Chinese history. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Shaoxing was the foundation of Yue Kingdom. In the Qin Dynasty which set up the first county system in China, Shanyin County was founded. In the Chen Kingdom of the Southern Dynasty, Shanyin was divided into Shanyin and Kuaiji counties, with their governments seated in the same city. As the Republic of China was founded, the prefecture system was abolished and county system was established, Shanyin and Shaoxing counties were unified as one county named Shaoxing.
Over centuries since 129 AD (the fourth year of the Yongjian Period of the Eastern Han Dynasty), Shaoxing has been the capital city of Kuaiji prefecture, Yue State, Shaoxing Prefecture, Shaoxing Municipality. For this reason, Shaoxing refers to the prefecture, county, state, and municipality, though areas under their respective jurisdiction varied in history. The name of Shaoxing also refers to the capital city of the Yue Kingdom, Shanyin, Kuaiji and Shaoxing County. Despite frequent changes in names and sizes, however, the area and the capital city has remained the same basically for over 2,500 years. In historical annals, Shaoxing stands both for the prefecture and the county. Shaoxing as a county has been well known both at home and abroad. On February 8, 1982, the State Council released the first list of 24 historical and cultural cities in China. Shaoxing was on the list.
The famous scenic spots in Shaoxing show the integration of a 4000-year-history and civilization of China, classic architectural culture and landscape of the water country of southern China, and depict a splendid historic picture.
Source: shaoxing.gov.cn
Editor: Wang Moyan
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