Located in the northern part of Zhejiang Province and south of Hangzhou Bay, with its long history and many celebrities, Shaoxing is a famous historical and cultural city that boasts beautiful lakes and rivers.

Legend has it that as early as 4,000 years ago, Da Yu (Yu the Great) of the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600BC) went to Shaoxing for water-control projects. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), Goujian, king of the Yue State, made Shaoxing the capital and named it Yuechi. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), it was renamed Shaoxing, which has lasted until now. Shaoxing is also the birthplace of many famous scholars, writers and artists, including Cai Yuanpei, a famous educator, late premier Zhou Enlai, and Lu Xun, the novelist, as well as the heroine Qiu Jin.

Shaoxing is world famous for its gorgeous scenes along its waters. Its many rivers, big and small, span 1,900 kilometers, running vertically and horizontally -- just like streets in northern China -- with various stone bridges at their crossroads. Shaoxing boasts 229 ancient bridges, which constitute a site rich in man-made landscapes that have won the city the title "Hometown of Bridges."

Residential houses in Shaoxing are of a simple style and brilliant in color, with blue bricks, gray walls and black corridor columns, retaining the typical style of Song architecture (960-1279). Bathed in the bright sunshine, the structures look light and handy, simple but elegant.

In Shaoxing, there are many places worth visiting. Tourists can climb Houshan Mountain, visit Da Yu's Mausoleum, Censer Hill and Qinwang Mountain on its outskirts or the ancestral residence of Zhou Enlai, Lu Xun memorial and former residence of Cai Yuanpei.

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