East China registers largest tidal bore in years

World Today

The Qiantang River in east China’s Zhejiang Province will see its largest tidal bore in years due to the typhoon Dujuan, local hydrological stations said on Tuesday.

The bores usually start at the beginning of the eighth lunar month and reach their peak on the 18th day, which falls on Wednesday.

Affected by the approaching super typhoon Dujuan, the tidal level at Laoyancang, one of the best tide-viewing spots, rose sharply and the tidal current velocity accelerated, forming the biggest back tide and soaring tide in recent five years, and the tide reached as high as 30 meters.

Typhoon Dujuan will bring gales and rainstorms to Zhejiang Province in the coming few days according to the National Meteorological Center, and its power will be felt in the tidal bore of the Qiantang River, making the world’s largest tidal bore even more spectacular.

The Qiantang River tidal bore is the highest and fastest in the world, and the powerful impact of typhoon Dujuan’s gales and rainstorms are expected to make it even more spectacular.

Every year, the soaring waves crash along the banks of the river near the city of Haining. Tourists traditionally flock to watch the natural occurrence on the 18th day of the 8th lunar month, which falls on Sept. 30 this year.

The tide is expected to reach two meters in height, while the range 3.6 meters, the Hangzhou Hydrological Monitoring Station forecast.

The local government advises that spectators stand clear of the riverbanks and watch the tides from a safe distance.

So far this year, 15 people have been hit by the wave and rescued from the Qiantang River.

Compiled from CCTV wire reports