Zhejiang Overview

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 浙江
• Location: Southeast China
• Area: 105,500 square kilometers
• Population: About 56,570,000
• Language: Mandarin, Wu Chinese, Hokkien, barbarian, hakka, She language
• Minority: She nationality

Administrative Division

There are 11 prefecture-level cities that have jurisdiction over 89 county-level divisions, 37 municipal districts, 19 county-level cities, 32 counties and one county.

• 11 prefecture-level cities: Hangzhou City (杭州市), Ningbo City (宁波市), Wenzhou City (温州市), Shaoxing City (绍兴市), Huzhou City (湖州市), Jiaxing City (嘉兴市), Jinhua City (金华市), Quzhou City (衢州市), Taizhou City (台州市), Lishui City (丽水市), Zhoushan City (舟山市)

Geography

With 450 kilometers’ length both from west to east and from north to south, Zhejiang covers an area of 105,500, which accounts for 1.1 % of China. Thus, it is a city with fairly small areas.

In Zhejiang, mountainous areas accounts for 74.63%, plains 20.32% and rivers 5.05%. Altitudes tend to be the highest in the south and west for the highest peak of the province, Huangmaojian Peak, is located there. Other prominent mountains include Mounts Yandang, Tianmu, Tiantai, and Mogan, which reach altitudes of 700 to 1,500 meters. There are four major plains including Hangjiahu Plain ((Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou), Ningshao Plain (Ningbo, Shaoxing), Jinliqu Plain (Jinhua, Lishui, Quzhou) and Wentai Plain (Wenzhou, Taizhou). Most plains filled with rivers lie in northern part of Zhejiang province. In the east, there are coastal hills. And mountainous areas gather a lot in the south. Besides, the island area in Zhoushan enjoy rivers, lake, sea and mountain all together.

Climate

Zhejiang belongs to subtropical monsoon climate, with marked monsoon climate, four distinct seasons, moderate temperature, abundant light, and rainfall, humid air. Meanwhile, it encounters lots of meteorological disasters.

Annual average temperature varies from 15 to 18 ℃. The coldest and hottest month is January and July respectively. Rainfall gathers in May and June. Extreme maximum temperature is 44.1 ℃, and extreme minimum temperature is 17.4 ℃. The average annual rainfall in Zhejiang province varies from 980 to 2000 mm, and its annual average sunshine hours is between 1,710 and 2,100 hours.

The Best Time to Go

Most of the time is good for traveling there. But April, May and October are the best time. The temperature rises in April. And it welcomes periods for the arrival of new lives in spring. In September, hot weather is just gone and cool autumn comes, which is good for traveling. Also, it is the season of Osmanthus fragrans. All kinds of seasons start to be sold in market. Then, after the Mid-autumn Festival, tidal bore watching welcomes its suitable time, which would be a good visual feast for tourists. In hot summer, tourists can go to the west or the south to avoid summer heat. In winter, experiencing hot spring bath is a good try.

Things to Do

Zhejiang province is blessed with amazing natural scenery and historical cultural relics, where you can visit the West Lake, Wuzhen, Xitang Ancient Town, Qiandao Lake, Lake Tai, Hengdian World Studios, Taohua Islad, Yandang Mountain, South Lake, Qiantang River, Putuo Mountain, etc. More about Zhejiang Attractions.

Transportation

As the third batch of free trade area trial and one of the most active provinces in China's economy, Zhejiang is a developed southeast coastal city in China, which makes it possess splendid transportation conditions. Railway, highway, waterway and airlines are all available there.

History & Culture

Zhejiang province has a long history and profound culture, which witnesses different developments in history and also formed its own special culture.

The area of modern Zhejiang was outside the major sphere of influence of the Shang civilization during the second millennium BC. Instead, this area was populated by peoples collectively known as Dongyue and the Ouyue.

Kuahuqiao culture there was an early Neolithic culture that flourished in the Hangzhou area in 6,000-5,000 BC. Zhejiang was the spot of the Neolithic cultures of the Hemudu that started in 5500 BC and Liangzhu which started in 3400 BC.

During the Han and the Three Kingdoms periods, Kuaiji Commandery was the initial power base for Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu's rebellion against the Qin Empire which initially succeeded in restoring the kingdom of Chu but eventually fell to the Han. In the Late Han dynasty, the jurisdiction of the area belongs to the new settlers around Mount kuaiji, but only existed in name.

During the Six Dynasties and Sui & Tang eras, Zhejiang, as the heartland of the Jiangnan mainly located in Yangtze River Delta, remained the wealthiest area. In the Sui dynasty, economic development was reflected in the expansion especially in the north to Han State and south to Yue State. Another form of expansion is the canal, namely the Grand Canal of China.

In the later dynasties, it played an important role and developed maturely.

Economy

Zhejiang is one of the richest and most developed provinces in China. Traditionally, Zhejiang is known as the "Land of Fish and Rice". True to its name, rice is the main crop, followed by wheat; north Zhejiang is also a center of aquaculture in China, and the Zhoushan fishery is the largest fishery in the China.

Its main manufacturing sectors are textiles, chemical industries, electromechanical industries, food, and construction materials. Making the best of its advantages, Zhejiang has followed its own development model named the "Zhejiang model" in recent years, which is based on prioritizing and encouraging entrepreneurship, an emphasis on small businesses responsive to the whims of the market, large public investments into infrastructure, and the production of low-cost goods in bulk for both domestic consumption and export.

Tourism

Wuyue culture is the main composition of Zhejiang culture. There are 88 national cultural relic protection units, 321 provincial level cultural relic protection units, 1674 city or county level cultural relic protection units, nearly 40,000 cultural relic protection points and 13 historical and cultural cities. All these cultural and tourism resources attract a great deal of people from home and abroad.

Festivals

As a place with long history and profound culture, Zhejiang has its own special festivals and activities which could represent local living customs, geographical features such as China International Qianjiang River Tidal Bore Festival, Lanting Calligraphy Festival, Xitang Temple Fair, etc. Know more about Zhejiang Festivals.

Dining

Zhejiang cuisine is one of the great eight traditional cuisines in China. Located in the west of China East Sea and with lot of rivers and channels in the north, it is blessed with abundant kinds of ingredients for food such as more than 500 types fishes and shell products. The fertile land contributes a lot to Zhejiang cuisine. Besides, the long history and profound culture also make Zhejiang cuisine differ from other cuisines with its own characteristics.