Shaoxing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

绍兴市
Shàoxīng Shì
Shaoxing is highlighted on this map
Administration Type Prefecture-level city
Area (Land) 8,256 km²
Population 4,347,200 (2004)
GDP
- Total (2006)
- Per Capita (2006)
 
¥167.8 billion
¥ 38,553
Major Nationalities Han
County-level divisions 6
Township-level divisions
Mayor Zhang Jinru (张金如)
Area code 575
License Plate Prefix 浙D
City flower Orchid
For Shaoxing wine, see Shaoxing wine.

Shaoxing (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Shàoxīng; Wade-Giles: Shao-hsing) is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Lying on the south bank of the Qiantang River mouth, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west.

Contents

[edit] Administration

The prefecture-level city of Shaoxing administers 1 district, 3 county-level cities and 2 counties.

[edit] History

Modern-day Shaoxing sits on the site of the capital of the Spring and Autumn Period Kingdom of Yue. Around the sixth century BC, Yue had a sinicised ruling elite which fought a number of wars against its northern archrival Kingdom of Wu.

Shaoxing became a subprefecture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Under the Republic of China, it became a county. And under the People's Republic of China, it became a city.

[edit] Geography and climate

East Lake, Shaoxing's traditional scenic area
East Lake, Shaoxing's traditional scenic area


[edit] Notable people

[edit] Tourism

A boat on one of Shaoxing's waterways, near the city center
A boat on one of Shaoxing's waterways, near the city center
  • Lu Xun's residence is preserved near the middle of the city, and has become a tourist destination.
  • East Lake (东湖) is a traditional scenic area just out of town.
  • Shaoxing has the Tomb of Yu the Great (大禹陵).

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • The Chinese rice wine (黃酒) is also known as Shaoxing Wine (紹興酒) or simply Shao Wine (紹酒). The brewery takes the natural process with the "pure" water of Jianhu-Mirror Lake. It has a unique flavour and a reputation throughout the nation and internationally. It is used both as a liquor and in cooking, and as a solvent for Chinese herbal medicated ointment. The China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corporation produces 110,000 tons annually for the domestic and overseas markets.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 30°00′N, 120°35′E