Pinghu has a long history.Antiques unearthed from Da Wen Tang Site proved that as early as 6 thousand years ago Pinghu was inhabited.The ancestors lived here on farming,fishing and animal husbandry and developed gradually Ma Jia Bang Culture and Liang Zhu Culture.Since the beginning of the 1990s,Pinghu has explored and excavated Ping Qiu Dun Site,Dai Mu Dun Site,Da Wen Tang Site and Tu Ze Site and unearthed a lot of extremely valuable antiques of the time of Liang Zhu Culture and Ma Jia Bang Culture.Discoveries in Zhuangqiao Tomb were appraised as one of the six archeological discoveries in China in 2004 by the archeological forum of China Academy of Social Science.
Pinghu is the birthplace for numerous talents and famous scholars throughout the ages,such as Th Lu Ji,Luyun of the three-kingdom period,General Liu Qi and painter Zhao Mengjian of South Song Dynasty,philosopher Lu Jiashu of Qing Dynasty whos reputed as The most honest and integrate official,unmatched talent and renowned Buddhism monk Li Shutong,achieved calligrapher and painter Lu Weizhao,Wu Yifeng and Chen Julai.
In recent years,the culture and sports undertakings have experienced rapid development in Pinghu.The cultural and sports infrastructures and facilities have been greatly improved and public cultural of sports activities have been impressively enriched.Pinghu also has set up a group of cultural and sports buildings for the public such as Lu Weizhao Calligraphy and Painting Academy,Wu Yifeng Art Gallery,new museums and libraries,stadiums,Li Shutong Monument,sports centers,swimming pools,and table-tennis training halls.In 2008,Pinghu was famed Homeland of Chinas Folk Cultures and Arts by the Ministry of Culture and by then all the counties(towns)under the jurisdiction of Pinghu had been enlisted in the Province Level Strong Sports Counties(Cities or districts).Pinghu Bazi Story Telling(a kind of local folk art)and Pinghu School Pipa Playing have been enlisted in the State intangible cultural heritage Protection Program and Chinas Cultural Heritage List.The art of watermelon lanterns,dragon dancing and Bazi Story Telling are elite product of Pinghu Culture and enjoy prestigious fame both at home and abroad.
Pinghu has long kept the tradition of respecting the teachers and highly valuing education.Throughout the ages it has been the home and birthplace of many famous people,including great scholars and many academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering.In 1996 Pinghu was approved as the state advanced county(city)of special education and became the strong education city of Zhejiang Province in 2001.In May,2003,Pinghu was honored as the National Advanced County(city)on Pre-school Education.In 2005,the honor of Strong Education City of Zhejiang Province was renewed.
By now,all the 7 towns and 3 districts of Pinghu are province level Strong Education Towns(districts),representing the great achievement in education development of the city.The enrollment rate of the compulsory education age population of the city has reached 100%and the rate of junior high school graduates enrolled to senior high school has exceeded 98%.First time employment rate for graduates from intermediate vocational schools in Pinghu has reached 98%.At present,Pinghu hosts 45 primary schools,14 junior high schools,5 ordinary senior(complete)high schools,5 intermediate level vocational schools and 44 kindergartens.Besides,its also home to a teachers college for vocational studies,Pinghu Broadcast College and a branch campus of Jiaxing College.
