Zhejiang Province - Shaoxing 绍兴市

Shaoxing is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,400 years. Encompassing 7,950 square kilometers the city has a population of 4.32 million. It boasts over 4,000 bridges, which are unmatched anywhere else throughout China. Within its boundary there are many rivers, big and small, totaling more than 1,900, and it has been regarded as a famous water town in South China. Its industries include light textiles, iron and steel, machinery, building material and brewery.

Shaoxing Wine 绍兴酒

Shaoxing Wine has a history of over 2,000 years and has been known for its flavour and golden colour. The wine is one of the best and mildest intoxicants made from rice. It is processed at a low temperature using prolonged fermentation. In 1920s and 1930s, Shaoxing Wine won several gold medals in international fairs.

In 1956, there were in Shaoxing more than 700 private distilleries that were merged into 4 wine factories. The traditional quality was preserved, modern technology being introduced. The output was increased and quality improved. In 2000, total production of Shaoxing Wine chalked up to 50,000 tons, of which 8,000 tone were exported. As increasing demand exceeds supply, new mechanized workshops have been built in order to double its output.

Many stories are still told about Shaoxing Wine across the nation. In 353, during the Jin Dynasty (265-420), the local county official and famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi (321-379) invited 41 well known scholars to Lanzhu Hill outside Shaoxing city, East China’s Zhejiang Province, for a religious service. After the ceremony, he asked the guests to take a rest on the banks of a winding stream and let a cup filled with wine to drift with current. If the cup stopped or turned, the person nearest to it had to compose a poem or drink three cups of wine. Thirty-seven poems were written during the gathering. Drunk but elated, Wang Xizhi wrote a preface for them on a silk paper with a brush made of mouse whiskers. His running hands have been considered to be one of the best ever seen.

Shaoxing Wine is produced in the town of the same name in Zhejiang Province. It won two gold medals in international competitions in 1985-one in Paris, France; the other in Madrid, Spain. The output of Shaoxing Rice Wine reached nearly 100,000 tons in 2003.

The Orchid Pavilion 兰亭

Located at the foot of the Lanzhu Hill 12 kilometers from the city of Shaoxing, the Orchid (Cymbidium) Pavilion and the garden were moved here and rebuilt in 1548 in the Ming Dynasty. It got its thorough renovation in 1980. It used to be the place where Goujian, King Yue越王勾践 (?-465 C, reigned 497-465 BC during the late Spring and Autumn period) planted orchids; while in the Han Dynasty a post pavilion was erected here, hence the name. In the East Jin Dynasty (317-420) it was the place where Wang Xizhi王羲之 (321-379 or 303-361), the great calligrapher of the East Jin Dynasty met with his friends for a romatically poetic experience. Now it has become a Mecca for both Chinese and overseas calligraphers. Wang Xizhi was known as the “sage of calligraphy” in ancient China and was particularly good at xingshu行书 (running hand) and caoshu 草书(cursive hand).

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