China
2023.09.30 17:12 GMT+8

Surging tidal bores in Qiantang River fascinate tourists

Updated 2023.09.30 17:12 GMT+8
CGTN

The best season of the year for sightseeing has arrived thanks to the Qiantang tidal bore in east China's Zhejiang Province, which is renowned for its height and speed.

The greatest tidal bore in the world, known locally as the Silver Dragon, is said to exist in the Qiantang River. The tides typically reach their height between the 15th and 18th day of the eighth lunar month, creating breathtaking landscapes that draw many tourists.

The Tashan Dam, the first dam constructed on the Qiantang River in Huangwan Town as early as 1740, is situated to the northwest of Jiashao Bridge and was visible when the tides approached and reached it around 11:10 a.m. on Friday. The dam was battered by the tides, which caused some to continue going forward and some to withdraw, making for an impressive scene.

At around 12:00 p.m., an onrushing Qiantang tidal bore surged at a pace of 20 kilometers per hour towards the nine-meter-high and 650-meter-long Laoyancang dam in Haining, sending roaring sounds into the air and forming a beautiful spectacle by creating a massive backflow bore after reaching the dam.

At 1:30 p.m., the tidal bore arrived at a dam in Hangzhou. The T-shaped dam runs along the river, providing an excellent view of the one-line tidal bore. Despite the fact that the height only reached 0.3 meters, the surging tides in Qiantang River drew hundreds of visitors from far and wide.

The tidal bore is mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The centrifugal force created by the Earth's rotation, along with the trumpet form of Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang, makes it easy for the tide to come in but difficult to ebb, resulting in the world's greatest tidal bore.

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