It's the best time now to see Hangzhou's tidal bore

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One after another, three-to-four meter high tides roar and hit the dam. That doesn't happen every day, but it happens every year at the Hangzhou Bay and the Qiantang River in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, many Chinese will head to Qiangtang River to witness these spectacular natural scenes. This year, the best time to watch the tide is from October 4 to October 9 and the biggest tides are expected to occur on October 7.

It is believed to be one of the top three most spectacular tidal bores in the world, together with the Ganges tide bore in India and the Amazon tide bore in Brazil.

Photo via Baidu Baike

Why the tides are huge

The tidal bore at the Qiantang River is a result of geological, astronomical and climate factors. The widest part of Hangzhou Bay is about 100 kilometers and it dramatically narrows to 20 kilometers at the estuary. When the tide pours into the estuary, it automatically rises by several meters.

Besides the trumpet-shaped bay, Mid-Autumn Festival, which is at August 15 in the lunar Chinese calendar, is when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun are almost all at a straight line, causing the tides.

The gravity and centrifugal force caused by the Earth’s rotation, and the wind from Southeast, contribute to the dramatic tidal bores every year during this period.

Reuters Photo

Tradition

Qiantang River tidal bore is regarded as one of the world's natural wonders and it has been a tradition in China for hundreds of years, especially in areas around Zhejiang Province, to visit this location at the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In ancient times, people believed it the tidal bore came from a dragon diving in the river because they couldn’t explain the phenomenon with science.

But the spectacular nature of the event ensured this tradition has been passed on from generation to generation.

Photo via Getty Images

Hazard

However, high tides also mean danger, and people are accidentally killed or wounded almost every year.

In the past few decades, it is estimated that over 100 people have been swallowed by the tidal bore.

In 2011, 34 people were wounded and nine were sent to hospital due to the strong returning tide. The deadliest occurred in 1993, which left 19 dead, 27 wounded and 40 missing.

So it’s important to bear safety issues in mind when observing this natural wonder.

CGTN Photo

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