Zhuji

Zhuji (simplified Chinese: 诸暨; traditional Chinese: 諸暨; pinyin: Zhūjì) is a county-level city under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Shaoxing in China's southeastern Zhejiang province, located about 40 miles south of Hangzhou. It has 2,311 square kilometers with a population of 1,157,938 inhabitants at the 2010 census even though the built-up (or metro) area is much smaller. It is served by Zhuji Railway Station.

History

The region around Zhuji has been settled since Neolithic times and was the origin of the Wuyue culture. During the Spring and Autumn Period, it was the birthplace of the legendary beauty Xi Shi. After the state of Yue was absorbed into the unification of China, Qin Shi Huang formally codified the boundaries of Zhuji as a county in 222 BC. This status remained intact until 1989, when the State Council reclassified Zhuji as a city.

Economy

Its modern civic strengths include an excellent educational system and robust economic development, especially in the production of pearls, socks and embroidery machinery Datang. Due to its pearl production, the city has become known as "The Pearl City".