Geography & Climate

As the capital of Zhejiang province and its economic, cultural, science and educational center, Hangzhou is one of the central cities in the Yangtze River Delta. It also ranks among the first batch of National Historical and Cultural Towns crowned by the State Council. 

Located in the southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, at the western tip of Hangzhou Bay, it is the crossing point of the extension of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 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 hills and water, and lakes and town, with its harmonious rich water resources of rivers, canals, lakes, sea, creeks. Hilly or mountain areas, largely concentrated in the west, middle and south, account for 65.6 percent of its territory. Its plains amount to 26.4 percent, mainly found in the northeast; and the surface area of rivers, lakes and reservoirs takes up 8.0 percent. Hangzhou boasts the largest reservoir in China's southern coast -- Qiandao Lake. Traversing the city is the world's longest artificial canal -- the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and the Qiantang River, widely known for its spectacular tidal waves.

Hangzhou enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons, ample sunlight and rainfall, more in spring and autumn and less in winter and summer.

Administrative Division

Under the jurisdiction of the city of Hangzhou are nine urban districts, namely Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Jianggan, Gongshu, Xihu (West Lake), Binjiang, Xiaoshan, Yuhang, and Fuyang, two county-level cities -- Jiande and Lin'an -- and the two counties of Tonglu, and Chun'an. Together they enclose a total of 190 towns (subdistricts), of which 23 are townships, 75 towns, 92 subdistricts, 1,072 communities, 34 residential quarters and 2,043 administrative villages. The city covers a total area of 16,596 square kilometers; 4,876 of them are urban.