The district contains the remains of
Neolithic settlements from the
Liangzhu period. Prior to the expansion of modern
Hangzhou, Yuhang formed a separate city. It is the earliest settlement recorded in the area of present-day Hangzhou. Chinese scholars traditionally interpreted its name as a mistake for "
Yu's Ferry" (), after the
legendary account of
Yu the Great's gathering of his
lords at
Mount Kuaiji around This is now thought to be a
folk etymology and Yuhang ( is almost certainly an ancient transliteration of an old
Baiyue name. Yuhang was part of
Kuaiji Commandery prior to the growth of Hangzhou following the 7th-century construction of the
Sui's
Grand Canal. It was then administered from Hangzhou. ==Administrative divisions==