Tidal bore tourism surges in east China city as villages launch leisure attractions

Villages in Haining City, east China's Zhejiang Province, are riding the wave of Qiantang River's tidal bore tourism, launching entertainment and leisure activities to attract visitors and boost local business.

The Qiantang River is known for the world's largest tidal bore. The tides usually reach their peak on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month.

Recently, Haining has seen an influx of tourists eager to witness the breathtaking sight of the peak tides. While many choose the traditional method of watching from the shore, Jianshan Village has introduced a thrilling alternative --paragliding.

"When the tide comes in, our tourist numbers surge, particularly from Shanghai and Hangzhou. During peak times, we can handle around 200 flights daily. It's not just our flying base that attracts more visitors; many nearby water activities also experience a surge in tourists," said Jiang Kai, a coach at the paraglider base.

In Jianshan Village, water sports such as motorboating and power surfing have become popular among adventure enthusiasts from surrounding areas.

"I drove an hour from Hangzhou just to experience this. It's incredibly thrilling and full of fun," said Jiang Xiaojie, a tourist.

In Haichao Village, located at one of the most popular tide-watching locations, a charming riverside cafe has emerged as a key attraction.

"It's very beautiful here. Sitting here puts me in a very relaxed state, and I feel so close to nature," said Zhao Mengyi, a tourist.

In addition, tourists can explore local farms and orchards, indulging in delicious regional cuisines after enjoying the spectacular tidal bores.

The tidal bore is mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the Earth and the trumpet shape of the Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang makes it easy for the tide to come in, but difficult to ebb, thus giving rise to the largest tidal bore.

Tidal bore tourism surges in east China city as villages launch leisure attractions

Typhoon Saudel, the 18th typhoon of this year, has re intensified into a tropical storm and continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds to coastal areas in southern China.

The storm was centered about 190 kilometers southeast of Shanwei, Guangdong, at 05:00 on Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of Force 8 near its center.

The National Meteorological Center maintained a blue typhoon alert at 06:00 on Wednesday.

After making landfall, Typhoon Saudel traveled across six provinces and regions, including Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong, before heading back out to sea, a path that is relatively rare for storms in the region.

On Tuesday, heavy downpours hit parts of Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Shantou, Kaohsiung, and Sanya, with some areas in northeastern Fujian recording 250 to 280 millimeters of rain, as the typhoon interacted with the monsoon trough and a cold front.

On Wednesday, the rain belt shifts slightly to the south, bringing heavy to torrential rain to Fujian, central and eastern Guangdong, and Taiwan. By Thursday, parts of southern Fujian, eastern Guangdong, and Taiwan will still see heavy rain.

The revival of Saudel after being downgraded was driven by favorable environmental conditions, according to the National Meteorological Center.

"After entering the South China Sea, Saudel regained strength mainly due to the abundant moisture and energy supplied by the strong monsoon. At the same time, sea surface temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius in the northern part of the South China Sea also provided favorable conditions for its intensification. In the coming days, Saudel's intensity is expected to remain largely unchanged, staying at tropical storm strength. It will then merge with a tropical disturbance over the northeastern South China Sea and linger in the area for several days," said Liu Longsheng, a senior engineer at the National Meteorological Center.

Typhoon Saudel strengthens again as winds, rain persist