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Traditional architecture rises beside the tranquil lake in the cultural park themed Lu You. [Photo/shaoxing.com.cn]

Shaoxing, one of China's first national historic cities, is tapping its abundant cultural heritage to fuel urban growth.

The city has focused on the Grand Canal by adopting a comprehensive protection plan and enacting local regulations. The plan identifies 158 protected sites with a total investment of 210 billion yuan ($30 billion). The effort also extends to safeguarding the ancient city core.

Shaoxing has taken the revitalization of the Cangqiao Zhijie historic area as a benchmark for its living-heritage approach, building a protection framework that spans one old city zone, three historic hometowns, and eight key districts. Landmark projects such as the Xu Wei Art Museum and the Shaoxing Celebrities Hall have since opened, helping retain original residents and maintain the city's authentic daily life.

Leveraging its role as the first prefecture-level city in Zhejiang authorized to conduct archaeological excavations, Shaoxing has increased efforts to study its early civilization. More than 30 excavations at sites including Jizhong site have uncovered over 30,000 square meters of excavation area and unearthed more than 50,000 artefacts.

Shaoxing continues to promote its reputation as a historical center of literati, traditional opera, and calligraphy. The city has held public ceremonies at the mausoleum of the legendary Yu emperor for 21 years, organized the Lanting Calligraphy Festival for 41 years, and hosted the high-level Conference on Wang Yangming Mind Philosophy for six years. Traditional operas such as Yueju Opera and Shaoju Opera have gained in popularity, with frequent high-quality productions.

To integrate culture into urban life, the city has integrated heritage into tourism, live performance and commercial venues. Landmark sites such as the former home of poet Lu You and the second phase of Lu Xun Native Place have opened. Immersive productions like Tracing Lu You have drawn strong praise, bringing deep cultural heritage to the public and the market in a fresh form.

A preview of the immersive water show Tracing Lu You. [Photo/shaoxing.com.cn]