Fifty years ago, Shaoxing was like the city of Venice. Inside the city, there were few hundred of small rivers, across from East to West, South to north, forming transport routes for city people to go anywhere in the city by boat.
Many houses were built on the river side and at four o’clock in the afternoon, many fishing boats will come to the river side house to sell their sea products. Every home could buy river fish or shrimp at their door step, very convenient and at the same time, a lot of time saved from going to the market.
Shaoxing wine is famous to all China, and even to the world where many overseas Chinese live. It is because in Shaoxing there is a big river called Mirror Lake, which water was particularly good for making wine.
Another famous thing is the black boat which is very long and very thin and can only take one passenger or two. Passengers have to sit or lie on the boat. The boat was driven by a strong man by feet and hand. Rich people will own one boat for use as today’s private car.
Shaoxing is a city of water, but no one knows where the water comes from. Around the city there is a big river, now still there. Therefore, the city is located in the centre of a river, which never flooded in the past history.
It is a place for people to have sight-seeing. You can see many ancient history things from the city if you have time.