【Establishment alteration in history】

Shaoxing has a long history. In Neolithic Age, people produced here. Maanshan Mountain, Hupingshan Mountain and other places have numerous human occupations dating back to 4000 to 5000 years. According to legend, Gun (an ancient king and hero who tried to control the flood) built city here to treat Yao (an ancient king who was wise and kind) for his travelling and hunting; Shun (an ancient king who was wise and kind) was born in Yaoqiu (an historical region in present Shangyu City), and he once met his ministers in Baiguan, so now Zhejiang has cites called Yuyao, Shangyu, Baiguan; Dayu succeeded in controlling the flood caused by Yellow River and got marry in Tushan Mountain. He awarded his ministers and ducks according to their contributions in Maoshan Mountain, whose name was changed into Guijishan Mountain. It’s the origin of the name of Guiji (historical region in Zhejiang). Dayu was buried in Guiji, and now in Guijishan has 18 sites related to Dayu including Dayu Mausoleum. When Diqi came to the throne, the Xia Dynasty was established. Diqi built a temple in Nanshan Mountain to offer sacrifice to Dayu. Xiang (the fifth king of Xia Dynasty) was killed by enemy and Xia Dynasty declined but his son Shaokang revived Xia. Shaokang’s son Wuyu was assigned as the duke of Yuyue (present Guiji), which was the predecessor of Yue Kingdom. In Spring and Autumn Period, Yunchang made the kingdom prosperous the first accomplished king of Yue Kingdom. When Yunchang’s son Goujian succeeded to throne, he built big city and small city (called Li city together). Goujiang annihilated Wu Kiongdom through great effort and became a powerful chief in Spring and Autumn Period. When Qin Shi Huang annihilated six major kingdoms and united China, he set up counties and prefectures as administrative region. In 221 BC, Dayue changed its name into Shanyin, and from that time Shaoyin was regulated as a county. Then east part of Shaoyin County was separated and set as Guiji County, and rest part remained as Shanyin Coutny. Becuase Guiji County was larger, most of period in history only Guiji County was remained. It was not a regulation of setting up both Shanyin County and Guiji County until 10th year of Yuehe during the ruling of Xianzong Emperor in Tang Dynasty. Shanyin County was seated on the west of Guijin, and their junction was the city river. They had worked in the same city for over 1000 years. In period of ROC, 1921, the two counties was merged into one, named Shanxing County. In October 1949, when PRC is founded, Shaoxing County’s down was separated and set as Shaoxing City, and the east part of the County was separated for setting as Guiji County, whose administrative center in Gaofu Town; west part remained as Shaoxing County, whose administrative center was moved to  Keqiao, so the Keqiao began to work as a county. On 9th May, 1950, the two counties and one city was merged into one as Shaoxing County. On 15th September Shaoxing County’s downtown was separated to set as Shaoxing City (county-level city), so then Shaoxing County and Shaoxing City worked in the same area. On 21st February, 1958, Shaoxing City was cancelled and merged into Shaoxing County. On 11th January 1962, once again, the downtown part was separated to set as a city (affiliated to the Coutny). On 3rd January 1963, the City affiliated to the County was cancelled and remained the County. On 31st March 1980, Shaoxing County was cancelled and rebuilt Shaoxing City, which remained as a county-level city. On 23rd July 1983, the system of city regulating county was approved by the State Council, so Shaoxing Independent Commission was cancelled and Shaoxing City (county-level) and Shaoxing County were set up, County administrative center in the City. On 20th September of this year, with notice of provincial office, Shaoxing County’s downtown part and neighboring 5 townships, Tingshan, Yuling, Lingzhi, Chengdong and Meishan, together with one town of Donghu were merged and set as Yuecheng District (county-leverl), affiliated to Shaoxing City. Then the City, County and District worked in the same city. In July 2000, once again, 5 townships of Shaoxing County, Dongpu, Jianhu, Fugao, Mashan, Doumen (excluding new Village of Mashan, Hezuo, Huangpu, Sunduan, Doujiang, Doumen ) were separated to merge into Yuecheng District. In October of that year, Shanxing County’s administrative center was moved to Keqiao as a trial. On 13th January 2001, approved by the State Council, Shaoxing County’s government would be move to Keqiao and have inauguration ceremony on 23rd March. On 18th October 2013, according to the State Council’s approval replying to Zhejiang provincial government’s application, Shaoxing County (county-level) was cancelled to set up Keqiao District affiliated to Shaoxing City, administrative region remaining (except for 3 towns, Sunduan, Taoyan and Fusheng). On 8th December 2013, Keqiao District Government affiliated to Shaoxing City was officially established.

【Affiliation in historical Dynasties】

It was Yue Kingdom’s capital between Spring and Autumn Period and Warring Stats Period. In Qin Dynasty, Shanyin was affiliated to Guiji Prefecture. In 5th year of ruling of Gaozu Emperor in Han Dynasty (202 BC), it was in feudatory nation of Chu, under the control of King of Chu , Hanxing ; in the 6th year, it was in assigned to feudatory nation of Jing, under the control of King of Jing, Liujia; in 12th year, it was assigned to feudatory nation of Wu, controlled by King of Wu, Liubi; in 3rd year of ruling of Jingdi Emperor (154 BC), feudatory nation of Wu was annihilated and Guiji Prefecture was rebuilt. In 2nd year of Taikang in Jin Dynasty (281 DC), the prefecture was changed into nation, as Guiji Nation; in 2nd year of yongning (301 DC), the nation was changed into prefecture, as Guiji Prefecture; in 2nd year of Taining (324 DC), once again, the Prefecture was altered into nation, as Guiji Nation; in 2nd year of Yongchu (421 DC), again as prefecture.

In 9th year of ruling of the first Sui Dynasty emperor (589 DC), Guiji Prefecture was changed into Wuzhou (zhou is a Chinese traditional administrative level), and into Yuezhou in 1st year of Daye (605 DC). It then was recovered as prefecture affiliated to Guiji County two years late. In 4th year of  Wude in Tang Dynasty (621 DC), the prefecture was cancelled to recover Yuezhou, and in 1st year of Tianbao in Tang Dynasty (742 DC), it recovered its level of prefecture. In 1st year of Qianyuan (758 DC), it was once again changed into Yuezhou, governing Shanyin and Guiji, which remained until the end of North Song Dynasty.

In 1st year of Shaoxing in South Song Dynasty, Yuezhou was enhanced as Shaoxing Prefecture, governing Shanyin and Guiji. In 13th year of Yuanzhi in Yuan Dynasty (1276 DC), prefecture system was renamed as Lu (similar to province) system, and Shaoxing Lu governing Shaoyin and Guiji. In 26th year of Zhizheng (1366) , prefecture system was resorted. Since that year, Shanxing Prefecture had governed Shaoyin and Guiji until Ming and Qing Dynasty.

In 1st year of Republic of China (1912), Shaoxing Prefecture was altered into a county, directly affiliated to Zhejiang Province. In June of 3rd year of ROC (1914), its counties were set as Dao (Chinese traditional administrative level), affiliated to Guiji Dao. In 16th year of ROC (1927), Dao system was cancelled and the counties were affiliated directly to Zhejiang Province. In June of 24th year (1945), Shaoxing Administrative Supervision (administrative level upper county and lower than province set in ROC period) was set up and changed into the second Supervision in the next April, and renamed as the second Administrative Supervision in 37th year (1948), governing Shaoixng County.

Shaoxing was liberated in May 1945,and set as 10th special region in June, governing Shaoxing County. In January 1952, the special region was cancelled and Shaoxing County was governed directly by Zhejiang Province. In February 1953, Shaoxing County was changed to be governed by Ningbo Special Region. In September 1964, Shaoxing Special Region was recovered, renamed as Shaoxing Region in May 1968. In September 1978 it was again renamed as Shaoxing Region Civil Administration, governing Shaoxing County. In July 1983, the Region was cancelled to set up Shaoxing City. In October 2013, approved by the State Council, Shaoxing County was cancelled and Keqiao District was set up affiliated to Shaoxing City.

【Keqiao History】

Keqiao has a long history and many famous people were born and grew here. It boasts prosperous economy and civilization. In Neolithic Period, people settled here to produce. In Spring and Autumn Period, Goujian became one of powerful chiefs, making a powerful kingdom of Yue. Qin Dynasty set prefecture and county as administrative system, and built Shanyin County. During the period of Chen Kingdom in South Dynasties, Shanxing County was separated into two part, Shanyin and Guiji County, which worked in the same area. This situation lasted until late Qing Dynasty. In 1st year of ROC, the two counties were merged into one, named Shaoxing. In 1983, the State Council executed administrative system of city governing county, so Shaoxing City and Shaoxing County existed currently with their administrative center working together in Yuecheng District. In 2001, Shaoxing County was rebuilt and moved to Keqiao. In 1982, the State Council listed Shaoxing City (county-level city, that is Shaoxing County) among the first national  famous historical and cultural cities. In October 2013, approved by the State Council, Keqiao District of Shaoxing City was established.

Since China’s policy of reform and opening up, Keqiao District (former Shaoxing County), as a region without adequate natural resources or national investment, has developed its economy, society stably, rapidly and soundly, ranking highly for its comprehensive power across the country. By an analysis on its speeding development, we consider Keqiao’s unique cultures together with the spirits inspired by them an important role for promoting the development. The cultures include:

Culture of flood control featuring diligence and innovation. Shaoxing’s terrain is high in south while low in north, so for thousands of years it suffers mountain torrent in south and tide in north. For survival, flood control has been an important activity for thousand years. In the ancient time, hero Dayu, who concerned for fate of his nation, worked for 13 years with every effort to control the flood. So now the famous story about Dayu, “many times passing his home without stay”, is well known. In 5th year of Yonghe in East Han Dynasty, Mazhen, prefecture chief of Guiji, lad people to build duke to make Jianhu Lake, and hydraulic project of Jianhu Lake is one the oldest irrigation projects in south region of Yangtze River. During Southern Dynasties, Shihe, administrative leader of Guiji was in charge of extending seawall, which was as long as hundreds of li (Chinese traditional length unit); then in Ming Dynasty, Tang Shaoen directed the project of Sanjing Floodgate for resisting sea tide and reclaiming farmland. In last century, people here made large scale of reclamation in 1970s and built standard seawall in 1990s. In early years of this century, people reclaimed land from shoal. All of these activities are recorded as diligence and struggling made for development. Shaoxing people, for a long time, frequently struggle with the nature by regulating rivers, resisting sea tide, fighting with mountain torrent, reclaiming land from shoal and swampy area. They constantly explored and practiced sparing every effort, gradually developing the wild land into a rich land. During the practical nature remaking, people of Shaoxing has produced abundant material civilizations and together with spirit of diligence and innovation.

Scholar culture featuring advance with times and struggle for achievement. There is sentence in a poem made by Mao Zedong which goes as: Jianhu area and Yue Kingdom is a land of famous scholars. It indicates that scholar culture features Shaoxing’s regional culture. There were numberless famous and representative people in various fields grown here, including Dayu, Goujian, Fanli, Mazhen, Wang Xizhi, Lu You, Wang Yangming, Xu Wenchang, Cai Yuanpei, Zhou Shuren, Qiu Jin etc. These famous people grown here, as preeminent thinkers in politics, economics, and culture, all contributed to nation’s development or revival, with their exploration and struggle. They pursued truth and sought advance and the nation and society. They left cultural and ideological legacy for offspring to continue to progress. The unique culture also gives birth the group of “Shiye”, a private advisor for administrative or martial leader. Zhejiang Shiye is a group with strong regional characteristics in history, also a group seeking justice with their wisdom and knowledge on legal code, therefore, they were scholars with advanced ideas and concern for human. The spirit attaching importance to struggle and diligence inspired by scholar culture is major momentum of Keqiao People, which marks Keqiao’s image.

Fabric culture featuring persistence and improvement. According to related professors’ study and confirmation, Shaoxing has a long history of producing fabric  tracing back to 7000 years when it was in the period of Hemudu. During the time of Dayu, about 4000 or 5000 years ago, silk was widely used as tribute; during the time of Goujian, about 2500 years ago, silkworm breeding industry for the first time was prosperous cross the whole kingdom; in Sui Dynasty, Shaoxing was famous for its exquisite fabric production which was sent as tribute for royalty; during Tang and Song Dynasty, fabric production reached a peak and the production called Yueluo (silk made in Yue) was well known across the country. After foundation of PRC, fabric production of Shaoxing experienced periods of recovering, developing, and stagnation. Since Chinese reform and opening up, Shaoxing’s textile industry has started its revival. Every places in Shaoxing produce fabrics and Shaoxing’s fabric market has became a powerful one in Asia, attracting dealers form every continents, receiving and sending relative information across the world. With the effort of Keqiao people, textile industry, once called sunset industry, develops into a new stage with creation in design, production, dyeing and finishing, marketing and other aspects, powerful and never stopping to seek perfection, so makes itself a pillar industry for Keqiao District economy. Now making international fabric production center and trade center is the strategic goal for realizing further advance. The history of textile industry development of Keqiao indicates Keqiao people’s personality and spirit featuring persistence, never giving up, and constantly seeking improvement.

Culture of rice wine making featuring strong determination behind mild attitude and profound knowledge. Shaoxing is famous for its yellow wine (rice wine) making which boasts a long history. According to a legend, rice wine has appeared in the time of Dayu, and it became very common in late Spring and Autumn Period. In Tang Dynasty, Shaoxing was called “Land of intoxication”; in Song Dynasty, Shaoixng had numerous wine shop in every corner. In Qing Dynasty, rice wince made in Shaoxing was sold around entire country. In Shaoxing, regardless of mountainous area or plain, city or village, officials or influential men or ordinary people, rich or poor, rice wine is a typical factor for daily life. Rice wine plays a major role in Keqiao people’s life and production as a life necessity. Rice wine inspires wine couplet, wine riddle, wine dance, wine song and wine music, as well as countless legends and poems about rice wine, which forming rich rice wine culture. The strongest feature of Shaoxing yellow wine lies in accumulation of aroma with time, mild and soft mouthfeel. However, it’s also strong with rich taste, similar to Keqiao people’s characteristics, soft outside, firm inside. Inspired by yellow wine culture, Keqiao people shape their low profile in doing business, indicating their persistence and determination behind peaceful way, and their profound knowledge accumulated gradually within their rich experiences.

【Historical Sites】

National Protected Historical Sites in Keqiao District

No.

Name

Era

Address

Date of announcement

1

Ancient Trace Road

Ming Dynasty

Keqiao   Subdistrict, Hutang Subdistrict, Qianqing Twon

January 1988

2

Mausoleum of Yue Kingdom (Yinshan Mountain)

between Spring and Autumn period and Warring States   period

Limuzha   Village, Lanting Town

June 2001

3

Tomb of Wang Shouren (Wang Yangming)

Ming Dynasty

Xianxiashan   Mountain, Hongxi, Huajie Village, Lanting Town

May 2006

4

Tome of Xu Wei

Ming Dynasty

Limuzha   Village, Lanting Town

May 2006

Provincial Protected Historical Sites in Keqiao District

No.

Name

Era

Address

Date of announcement

1

Keyan Sculpture

Sun and Tang Dynasty

Keyan   scenic zone, Keyan Subdistrict

August 1997

2

Maan Human occupation sites

Neolithic period

Siqiao Village, Maan Town

August 1997

3

Temple of King Shun

Qing Dynasty

Mountain of King Shun, Wangtan Town

August 1997

4

Temple of Great King

East Han to Qing Dynasty

Huxiang Natural Village, Jiangnan Village, Qianqing   Town

January 2011

5

Noble Tombs of Yue Kingdom

Spring and Autumn period, Warring States period

Pingshui Town, Lizhu Town

January 2011

6

Trace Road of Canal in east Zhejiang (Yuhou section in   Shaoxing)

between Tang Dynasty and  Republic of China

Yuhou Natural Village, Lianxing Village, Qianqing Town

January 2011

7

Old Site of Shanqing School

Republic of China

Zhoushan Village, Keyan Subdistrict

January 2011

8

Canal River Channel in east Zhejiang (Keqiao section)

Between Spring and Autumn period and Qing Dynasty

Keqiaoduan

January 2011

9

Ancient Bridges of Shaoxing (Taiping Bridge, Rongguang   Bridge, Jiedu Bridge, Xikuahu Bridge )

Between Yuan Dynasty and Republic of China

Keyan Subdistict, Keqiao Subdistict, Hutang Subdistict

January 2011

Provincial protected historical Conservation Area

No.

Name

Address

Date of Announcement

1

Keqiao Subdistrict, Keqiao District

Keqiao   Subdistrict

October 1991

2

Anchang Town, Keqiao District

Anchang   Town

October 1991