(photo from internet)

Population: 2,514,000

Area: 17,928 square kilometers (6,922square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Liandu); 6 counties (Jinyun, Qingtian, Yunhe, Suichang, Songyang, Qingyuan); 1 autonomous county (Jingning She Autonomous County); 1 county-level city (Longquan)

Location: Lishui lies in the southwest of Zhejiang Province neighboring Wenzhou in the southeast. The city is bordered by Fujian Province in the southwest boundary. It is 126 kilometers (78 miles) from Wenzhou, 292 kilometers (181 miles) from Hangzhou and 512 kilometers (318 miles) from Shanghai.

History: Human activities initiated over 4,000 years ago. The Sui Dynasty (581-618) established Chuzhou which is the original form of present Lishui City. Although its name was changed into Kuozhou later, Chuzhou is finally regained in the year of 779.

(photo from internet)

Physical Features: Medium mountain and hill areas constitute the main landform of the city. The general terrain of Lishui declines from the southwest to the northeast. Medium mountains occupy the majority of the southwestern territory, while the northeastern part is mainly lower mountain interleaving with river valleys and basins. Mountains in Lishui City mainly belong to the expansion of Wuyi Mountain.

Climate: Belonging to the subtropical monsoon climate, Lishui has shorter spring and autumn comparing with the time duration of summer and winter. Weather in spring varies rapidly. The plum rain period emerges in summer bringing intense rainfall or even rainstorms. Autumn is cool and winter is dry and chilly due to the influence of cold wave from North China.

When to Go: Summer is the most pleasant period to Lishui, because this is a city never lacking of summer resorts. Moreover, around the third day of the third lunar month, participating the celebrations and activities of the She minority is also an amazing option.

Special Local product: mandarin orange, Chinese mushroom, stone carving of Qingtian County, celadon and double-edged sword of Longquan City

(photo from internet)

Scenic Spots:

Fengyangshan-Baishanzu National Nature Reserve: As is implied by the name, the nature reserve consists of two parts. Among them, the Fengyangshan Nature Reserve is characterized by rich storage of rare plant and animal species; the wonderful summer resort, Fengyang Mountain; the highest peak in Jiangsu and Zhejiang area, Mount Huangmaojian. While the Baizushan features especially for the endangered Baishanzu Fir and its breathtaking natural scenery.

Daji: Located 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Jingning She Autonomous County, the scenic area stands in the alpine basin of 1,600 meters (5249) surrounded by mountains. The spectacular Xuehua Ji (Snow Waterfall) is the presentative scenery of Daji. In addition, there are also some old building worthwhile visiting. The Shisi Temple is one of the only three wooden buildings of Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties.

Xiandu National Park: During the October, tourism festival will held annually offering opportunities for visitors to admire the folk customs, meanwhile to closely approach to the natural beauty of the park. Dinghu Apex is the highlight. It is praised to be the largest stone pillar in the world and regarded as the symbol of Xiandu.

Tourist Tips:

1. Lishui has two principal bus stations. The West Bus Station is situated in the No.109, Nan Huan Xi Lu, and the East Bus Station is in No.399, Liqing Road. The west station mainly operates bus routes within the province.

2. Lishui is 1.5 hours' drive from Wenzhou. The Wenzhou Haunglong Bus Station in Lucheng Road dispatches buses to Lishui every forty minutes. From the Hangzhou South Bus Station in Qiutao Road, nearly twenty buses will run to Lishui for about 4 hours.