Shaoxing History

Shaoxing’s early civilization started as Hemudu Culture in the middle of the New Stone Age. Till now, it has a history of more than 7,000 years. Being long, Shaoxing’s history is a complete chronicle recording the changes of times.

As the ancient capital of Yue State during the Spring & Autumn Period, Shaoxing was established as a city in 490 B.C., about 2500 years ago. In 222 B.C., Ying Zheng, namely Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, conquered Yue State and established Yue State as Kuaiji Jun, which governed about 20 counties of modern Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Jun is an old unit of administrative division in China. In 106 B.C. in West Han Dynasty, another 6 counties were added to Kuaiji Jun. In 129 A.D. in East Han Dynasty, Kuaiji Jun was divided into two parts: Kuaiji Jun and Wu Jun. The area in the south of Qiantang River belonged to Kauiji Jun. And present-day Shaoxing was under direct administration of Kuaji Jun at that time. In 281 A.D. in Jin Dynasty, Kuaiji Jun was bestowed on Sun Xiu, a general of that time and it was called Kuaiji State. In 589 A.D., the Emperor of Sui Dynasty set up Wuzhou and changed Kuaiji Jun into Kuaiji County. Kuaiji County was under direct administration of Wuzhou. About six years later, Wuzhou was renamed Yuezhou. In 1131 in South Song Dynasty, the Emperor of that time changed Yuezhou into Shaoxing Fu. Fu is another old unit of administrative division in China. Today’s Shaoxing derived its name from Shaoxing Fu. During the Republic of China, Shaoxing Fu was changed into Shaoxing Administrative Supervisory Area. In 1983, Shaoxing was officially granted as Shaoxing City, directly under the administration of Zhejiang Province.