Zhejiang province has been famous for its natural beauty since ancient times. For thousands of years, poems, songs and prose have extolled the province.

In its capital city Hangzhou, the famous West Lake attracted tourists even 2,000 years ago. Thirteenth century Italian explorer Marco Polo, wrote that Hangzhou was "the city of heaven, the most beautiful and magnificent in the world".

The name Zhejiang literally means a winding river. It is the old name of the Qiantang River that runs through the province.

The province is 70 percent mountains and hills, 20 percent rivers and lakes, and only 10 percent farmland.

Unlike the magnificent mountain in North and Central China, those in Zhejiang are more gentle in landscape and scenery. They are home to the history and culture that has been in China for thousands of years.

In Shaoxing, Kuaiji Mountain has been a place for men of letters to gather and exchange their cultural and political views since the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). It is covered with various foliage, especially bamboo, the symbol of gentlemen in Chinese culture.

If you go and visit Kuaiji Mountain, you will find groups of people sitting in pavilions surrounded by bamboo, drinking tea and chatting, often with streams running down mountainside. Tourists can either rest by the streamside or take a sip of the natural water.

The mountains in Zhejiang are not experienced for the magnificence of their peaks, but to enjoy the beauty of their surrounding greenery, the chirping of birds and the rippling of streams.

Lively waters

The Qiantang River is the largest river in Zhejiang. It is famous for its tides that can be as high as 10 meters.

At full moon, tides form on the surface of the river. Viewed from afar, it looks like a white line running forward. As it approaches, it becomes wider and fiercer, smashing on nearby rocks. It runs directly to Hangzhou Bay and the East China Sea.

People in Zhejiang like to use the term "Qiantang River tide" as a metaphor to symbolize the spirit of the province, which they say is always striving.

Confucius, who lived in the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), said that kind people love mountains and smart people love water.

Under the influence of such tender mountains and lively waters, people in Zhejiang have turned out to be kind and gentle. They are good at doing business, but not stingy. Most of them do not turn to violence when conflicts occur.

Governments of all levels have also made efforts to establish a harmonious society.

In Shaoxing, government officials have recently worked out new methods to help maintain a peaceful and stable society.

The Shaoxing People's Court has established a service center to solve conflicts. Young judges take turns to provide consulting and conciliation services to citizens.

The purpose of the center is to solve problems before they go into judicial procedures.

"Conflicts will be widened when the cases go to court. That is why we try to solve them before that," said Yu Huanjun, a judge from the court.

Shaoxing and all its county-level cities also established a video system to conciliate problems online.

In the first half of this year, the Shaoxing People's Court alone provided services to more than 1,300 people and resolved 629 cases.

As well, the city's police department invites citizens to participate in public security.

In May a Shaoxing resident posted a comment on a local website that she dared not walk at night alone.

Acknowledging the concern, local police called for volunteer patrols to check on dark roads and remote areas every day.

Cycling fans, photography enthusiasts, travel clubs and volunteer associations responded, forming groups to accompany local police officers to patrol around the city.

Liu Guofu, chief director of the Shaoxing police bureau, said that turning to citizens is not a shame to police officers.

"This is about everybody's safety. The police bureau should listen to citizens so they can understand our duty and we can know their needs," he said.

In 2012, the police bureau was voted the most satisfactory governmental body by citizens.

Officials said the city of Shaoxing is just an example of how governments of all levels in Zhejiang are making efforts to create a peaceful society.

yanyiqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/05/2013 page15)