Thu 11 Oct 2007
Zhejiang brief information
Provincial capital: Hanghzhou
Population: 43.35 millions
Major cities: Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Jiaxing, Huzhou.
Centrally located in east China and adjacent to Shanghai, the southeast coastal province of Zhejiang is known for the serenity and elegance of its landscape, the richness of its cultural heritage, and its reputation as a `Land of Fish and Meat’, `Land of Silk and Tea’, `Land of Cultural Relics’ and `Tourist Resort’. The Qiantang River divides the province in two. Famous mountains and rivers, ancient silk-producing towns, and places of cultural and historical interest (such as the Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea) combine to turn Zhejiang into a major tourist destination. There are 11 national scenic resorts in the province, including the West Lake of Hangzhou, the Thousand-Island Lake, and the Putuo Mountain, and 19 sites under protection as key national cultural relics. Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shaoxing and Zhoushan are major tourist cities. Local tourist programs are focused on folklore, such as the tolling of bells to usher in the new year, the festival to watch the tidal bore of the Qiantang River, the International Boat Festival on the West Lake, the festival in honor of the Great Immortal Huang, and the pilgrimage to the Putuo Mountain.
Climate: Zhejiang has a sub-tropical monsoonal climate, warm, humid and rainy. It has a mean annual temperature of 15°-18°C, decreasing from south to north, and a mean annual precipitation of 1,200-1,800 mm. “Plum rains” occur between May and June and typhoons between summer and autumn.