A boat on one of Shaoxing's waterways, near the city center.

Shaoxing () is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang Province, China.

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.

• Area: 7,90l km² (101 km² urban)
• Population: 429,000 (300,000 urban)
• Average annual temperature: 16 °C

It is 65 km from Hangzhou.

History

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

Administration

East Lake, Shaoxing's traditional scenic area.

Shaoxing City governs three county-class cities, two counties, and one district:

• Shàngyú City (上虞市)
• Shàoxīng County (绍兴县)
• Shèngzhou City (嵊州市)
• Xinchāng County (新昌县)
• Yuèchéng District (越城区)
• Zhūjì City (诸暨市)

Notable people

• Cai Yuanpei, educator
• Chen Yi, politician of Dongpu Town (東浦鎮), Shaoxing County
• Lu Xun, writer
• Qiu Jin, female revolutionary
• Xishi, beauty (Zhuji City)
• Xu Wei, painter

Tourism

• 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 Cemetery of Yu the Great (大禹陵).

Miscellaneous

• Rice wine (黃酒) is also known as Shaoxing Wine (紹興酒) or Southern Wine (南酒). It is used both as a liquor and in cooking.