Location: Shaoxing is located in the north central Zhejiang Province, about 67 km (42 miles) from Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province of China. It lies on the south bank of the Qiantang River mouth on the southern shore of the Hangzhou Bay. it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. As a famous ancient city south of the Yangtze River, Shaoxing is the hometown of Lu Xun (1881 - 1936), China's great twentieth century writer.
The modern-day Shaoxing sits on the site of the capital of Kingdom of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC). As one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities in China, Shaoxing County was a center of politics, culture and culture in southern China from the Qin (221 - 207 BC) and the Han (206 BC - 220 AD) dynasties up to the Ming (1368 - 1644) and the Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. The county not only bred outstanding people over centuries but also enjoys a fine reputation as a pearl in southern China, birthplace of silk making, and land of culture and the home of prominent scholars.
Shaoxing is a town of rivers and canals, arch bridges and boats. Tourists will find a number of interesting places to visit in the city and its vicinity. The major attractions in this area include:
King Yu Temple and Tomb
This site is located four kilometers southeast of Shaoxing. King Yu or the Great Yu was believed to be the King of Xia Dynasty (21st - 17th Century BC), the legendary first Chinese dynasty. He was remembered for his extraordinary efforts in flood control. The temple which was first built in the sixth century and has since been rebuilt on many occasions is composed of Meridian Gate (Wumen), Memorial Hall, and the Main Hall, all built on the same axis. Da Yu's statue stands inside the magnificent twenty-four-meter-high Main Hall, which is double-eaved with painted ridge poles and engraved beams. The Goulou Pavilion in front of meridian Gate houses a monument also named Goulou, which is said to have been erected by King yu when he was taming the flood. In the Burial Stone Pavilion (Bianshiting) east of the temple is a two-meter-high cone-shaped stone believed to have been used at King Yu's funeral. King Yu's tomb sits to the left of the temple.
Lanting Pavilion
Located at the foot of Lanzhou Hill fourteen kilometers southwest of Shaoxing, this pavilion is where the master calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420) wrote a famous essay about his meeting with some friends here in 353. While in high spirits, Wang Xizhi wrote an article called 'Prologue to the Lanting Pavilion Collection'. Eminent and praiseworthy in both calligraphy and literary talent, this article became a masterpiece in these two fields. Now, Orchid Pavilion has been regarded as the Mecca for calligraphers.
Lu Xun's Former Residence
The residence, a two-storied wooden structure in traditional style, is found at 208 Lu Xun Road in Shaoxing. Lu Xun lived here until he went to study abroad. He received revolutionary soldiers and young students here from 1910 to 1912 when he returned home to teach in a local school, and it was here that he wrote his first novel. To the east of the residence is the Three Flavor Study (Sanweishuyu), a private school that Lu Xun attended during his childhood.
East Lake
East Lake is located in the east suburbs of Shaoxing city, three kilometers from the city center. Featuring an elegant landscape of lakes and mountains and fantastic stones, it, together with the West Lake in Hangzhou and Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, are known as the Three Famous Lakes in Zhejiang Province.
