Known in ancient times as
宝庆 (Baoqing) through the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Shaoyang was the hometown of late-Ming/early-Qing philosopher
魏源 (Wei Yuan, 1794–1857), author of 《
海国图志》 — one of the first Chinese books to systematically introduce world geography and advocate 'learning from the West'.
