West Lake

Geographical Location

The capital city of Zhejiang province and its economic, cultural, science and educational center, Hangzhou is one of the central cities in the Yangtze River Delta. A popular City of Scenic Tourism, it also ranks among the first batch of National Historical and Cultural Towns. Located in the southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, western tip of the Hangzhou Bay, it is the crossing point of the extension of "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" and a strategic hub along the "Online Silk Road". Situated at the juncture of 29°11'-30°34' North and 118°20'-120°37' East, Hangzhou features a perfect blending of hill and water, and lake and town, with rich water resources, and a ubiquitous yet harmonious presence of rivers, canals, lakes, sea, creeks. Such picturesque natural view has earned the fame of "Paradise on Earth" for millenniums. Throughout its territory, hilly or mountainous areas account for 65.6% and are largely concentrated in the west, middle and south; Plains amount to 26.4%, mainly found in the northeast; surface area of rivers, lakes and reservoirs takes up8.0%. Its forest coverage ranks top among the nation's provincial capitals-up to 65.35%. Hangzhou boasts the largest reservoir in China's southern coast-the Xin'an River Reservoir (also known as Qiandao Lake) and the world's longest artificial canal-the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Traversing the city is Qiantang River, widely known for its spectacular tidal waves.

West Lake

Climate

Hangzhou enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, featuring distinct seasons, ample sunlight and rainfall, shorter in spring and autumn, and longer in winter and summer. The year 2023 registers an annual average temperature of 18.8°C, 0.3°C higher than the year before, a total precipitation of 1,167.2 mm, 335.4 mm less than the previous year, and a total sunshine of 2,095.1 hours, 152 hours more than the last year. An extreme high temperature of 41.4 °C--- 2.3°C lower than the last yearis recorded on July 12 in Yuhang District, and a lowest temperature of-7.7°C2.7 °C lower than that of the previous year----occurs in Lin'an district, on December 22.