Shaoxing

Visitors watch Shaoxing local opera on Donghu Lake

About 2,500 years ago, the Yue State chose Shaoxing as its capital. Since then, Shaoxing has spawned many famous minds, including Lu Xun, modern China's greatest writer and intellectual.

Known as the capital of waters, bridges, wine and calligraphy, Shaoxing is one of China's National Historical and Cultural Cities. It is also one of the most important cities in the southern Yangtze Delta. Private enterprise accounts for about 95 percent of Shaoxing's economy.

The GDP of Shaoxing ranks fourth in Zhejiang, after Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou. Shaoxing consistently wins nationwide fame as an international fabric trade center. In 2008, the textile industry accounted for 43 percent of the city's total industrial production.