🎈Hangzhou: Why You Gotta Be SO Hot?! 😩

[Iris Marquardt]

Oh my, let me tell you about Hangzhou's weather – it’s quite something!

• According to the experts, the direction of the wind in Hangzhou follows a rather regular pattern:
• There’s only southeast wind when there’s a typhoon or during the rainy season.
• For most other times, it is northwest winds that blow along the Qiantang River (that large river which flows through Hangzhou), coming from Fuyang and Dongzhou Island on the western side, and all the way into the city center.

• However, here comes the tricky part! Despite the winds blowing over Hangzhou, the numerous mountains around the city restrict the formation of cool breezes at ground level.

• People who live in Hangzhou for long might not notice it unless they’ve been hit by a typhoon; during normal days, you can barely feel any breeze except for the occasional gust when a typhoon hits. 

• Take for example a fellow who travels frequently to nearby cities like Suzhou and Shanghai, two major cities just outside Hangzhou, can almost feel the difference of having wind in the air—whereas in Hangzhou, no such luck! It doesn’t feel as breezy, making it feel at least three to five degrees hotter than these cities.

• Let’s also talk about coastal cities like Taizhou, a famous coastal city in Zhejiang Province. At night, Taizhou cools down due to sea breezes, allowing for comfortable evening strolls, unlike its inland counterpart, Hangzhou, where you’ll feel like being in a steamer!

• Believe it or not, the outdoor temperature reached 38℃ even at 9 PM on August 3rd, which was unbearably hot and uninviting to go out for an outing!

• Honestly, Hangzhou’s great comfortable days are few, only consisting of a small portion of spring and when osmanthus flowers bloom in autumn (the osmanthus flower is an aromatic plant with tiny flowers which bloom city-wide in autumn, one of the unique features of Hangzhou).

• Therefore,
        • If you’re planning a trip to Hangzhou, avoid the majority of summer because of the excessive heat.
        • Beware of the wet cold of late autumn to early spring as well – different from northern cold areas where you can still feel comfortable even bundled up due to dryness, Hangzhou’s wet chill feels like it seeps straight into your bones, making even heavy clothing insufficient to provide warmth.
        • The best times to visit are undoubtedly in the brief spring and the time when the fragrant osmanthus blooms in autumn.

• Good news today: a sudden thunderstorm this afternoon cooled off the city, finally giving Hangzhou its much-needed respite in the form of a spot of cool blue on the map.