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Qiantang River Tide

Qiantang River Bridge
Qiantang River
Qiantang River is the biggest in Zhejiang Province, running from the west to Hangzhou Bay in the east. It serves as a river hinge, playing an important role in the water-transportation between the east and the west. It is encircled by a group of economically booming cities including Shanghai, China's leading industrial and commercial hub, and Ningbo, one of China's leading port cities. The extraordinary surging tide of the Qiantang River is a world-renowned natural wonder caused by the gravitational pull of the stars and planets. The centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the earth and by the peculiar bottleneck shape of Hangzhou Bay makes it easy for the tide to come in, but difficult for it to ebb.

The soaring tide of the Qiantang River is such a marvelous spectacle that only the Amazon River's surging tide rivals it! Annually, millions of people from both home and abroad flock there to watch the magnificent tide on the eighteenth day of the eighth lunar month (also around the Mid-Autumn Day). When the surging tide comes, the water can rise up to a height of 30 feet and the noise it generates sounds like thunder, or thousands of horses running. Various activities will also be held to celebrate the annual Tide - Watching Festival, according to local custom. In terms of its history, the custom of watching the bore tide has happened for more than 2000 years. It first appeared during the first century. Then, it became popular in the Tang Dynasty (about 7th -13th century). Yangong town in Haijing 45 km (about 28 miles) from Hangzhou is the best place to watch the Qiantang Tide.

The rushing tide can be dangerous if you are careless.So it's best to listen to the advice of the local policemen there whose job it is to ensure your safety and security.

bridge over the Qiantang River
Qiantang River Bridge
Crossing the river is the Qiantang River Bridge. It is China's first self-designed and self-built bridge, which took from April 1934 to Sept 1937 to complete. Qiantang River Bridge is comprised of its main body and the bridge approach, stretching a distance of 1453 meters (4767 feet). It is also the first modern double - layer bridge in China. The upper layer of the bridge is highway and the layer below is railway. Qiantang River Bridge is designed by the famous Chinese bridge engineer Mao Yisheng, who defied the words spoken by foreigners that it was impossible to construct a bridge in such a spot, and who made a great contribution to the Chinese bridge building industry. Looking out from the Six Harmonies Pagoda, one can get a panoramic view of the mighty Qiantang River, the majestic Qiantang River Bridge, and the surrounding landscape.

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Q & A on Qiantang River Tide

1.

Dec. 17,2009 10:43 Reply

Mrs.Mziko(Georgia) said:

Can you report me the name of the river which has 2 different tides in a year? 6 months on the one side and 6 months on the other.
thanks in advance

Dec. 20,2009 23:13
Mr.danny (cn) replied:

The Qiantang River

2.

Sep. 15,2009 12:02 Reply

Mr.Josh(China) said:

Does anyone know of anybody acutally surfing the Hangzhou river bore, I'm assuming its illegal but what can happen if you try? Im seriously considering going down there for the october holiday and maybe joining up with people that might have the same idea.

3.

Aug. 29,2009 02:02 Reply

Mr.Lucidor(Sweden) said:

I have heard that the best time to see it is in September, can anyone confirm that?

Sep. 1,2009 03:45
Ms.Amy(cn) replied:

If you want to see the spectacular tide, i suggest you come around lunar Mid-autumn Day, early October in solar calendar. Spetember is also a good time to visit.

Sep. 12,2009 02:07
Mr.Lucidor(Sweden) replied:

What time would be the best the 26:th or 27:th of September and what place would you recommend?

Sep. 12,2009 02:55
Ms.Belinda replied:

Actually, the best time to see the tide of this year is from Oct.3 to Oct.6.
Spe.26 has no much difference from Spe.27.

Sep. 12,2009 03:02
Ms.Belinda replied:

Forget about the place, lol
the best site is the Guanchao Gongyuan (tide watching park) of Yanguan Town, Haining City, Jiaxing.

Sep. 12,2009 10:06
Mr.Lucidor(Sweden) replied:

Sorry me is in Thailand at the time but if we go there the 26:th, what time of the day would be the best and would the be a tidal wave comming in?

Sep. 13,2009 01:03
Ms.Rita replied:

The best time to see the tide of 2009 is in Oct.6. I'm afraid the tide will not be the biggest if you go there in Sep.26.

Sep. 13,2009 07:34
Mr.Lucidor(Sweden) replied:

OK I understand but as said we have no posibility to go other than the 26:th, there will still be a tidal wave ,right?

What time of the day (the 26:th) will this ,however smaller, appear?

Lucidor

4.

Jul. 19,2009 09:36 Reply

Mr.James(USA) said:

The Bore should be spectacular on the 22nd, given that only a short time before, the eclipse will bring the sun and moon into perfect alignment

5.

Jun. 27,2009 16:00 Reply

Mr.Olovsson(Sweden) said:

What time is the tidal wave coming on July 22?

Jun. 28,2009 04:29
Mr.Jamie replied:

14:26 in the afternoon.

Jul. 10,2009 07:21
Mr.Olovsson(Sweden) replied:

Jamie, I have got information from friends that the tidal wave will come already around 12:30 on July 22. Where did you get your information that it should be 14:26?

Jul. 11,2009 21:36
Mr.Jamie replied:

Sorry Olovsson, I wrongly calculate the lunar date of July 22. According to the timetable given by http://news.eheda.gov.cn/zt/chaoshui/index.asp, web of Hangzhou Hydrology and Water Resources Monitoring station, the tide on that day should be at 11:50 (1st and 16st day of every lunar month, summer: 11:50 tide, 23:45 night tide). It also depends on where you stay to observe. Yanguan is the front area and Xiasha is 1h28m later.

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