Zhuji, a county-level city in Zhejiang province with history and scenery, is known as the native home of Xishi, one of the "four beauties of ancient China". Xishi was a local girl who lived in a village surrounded by mountains and waters, under the rule of the Yue state in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).

Xishi's beauty had been spread out by word-of-mouth that she was also referred to in literary works as chenyu (sinking fish). Xishi received her nickname from a tale; Xishi often washed yarn at a stream near her home, and her pretty reflection stunned the fish and made them sink in the depth of water.

The story reiterates the girl's outstanding appearance and, in another way, reflects a boom of textile productions in Zhuji at the time — Xishi's mother was a weaver.

The textile industry has remained a trademark of Zhuji and of its many products; socks have become popular at home and abroad. The city produces around 70 percent of the socks in China. The 16th China Datang International Hosiery Industry Expo and the Zhuji lag of this year's Shanghai International Hosiery Purchasing Expo will be held from Sept 6 to 8 at Zhuji International Trade City, according to a recent news conference held by the Zhuji municipality in Beijing.

The two events are a few of the promotional activities within the year's event calendar to boost Zhuji's economic and cultural scenes.

People often relate Xishi's grace and charm to the luminosity of freshwater pearls, another signature product of Zhuji. The city administers said at the conference that this year's World Pearl Congress will be held from Aug 26-28 in the congress' permanent site, Shanxiahu town.

Meanwhile a series of activities to introduce Zhuji's history, culture and tales of Xishi are to be held in the city until October.