Landscape And Climate

   Within coordination at 111°30' --- 113°09' east and 37°27'--38°25' north, being in middle of the province, Taiyuan basin holds the city at its north part taking total space of 6,988km2 . Surrounded in the east, north and west by mountains, and river-flushed plain in the middle and south, the area takes a shape of a dustpan. The mountain in the east is called 'Dongshan' it belongs to Taihang range at a latitude of 1,000-1,500m, its peak is "Hanshan' at 1,591m; In the west, the mountain belongs to 'Luliang' range at 1,600m and its peak is 'Yun Dingshan' at 2,659m, in the north it bolongs to the 'Zhoushan' range at 1,800m, nick named as 'Key to lock on north gate' taken as battle stronghold historically. In the middle, it is the Taiyuan basin at 800m, flat, fertile and easy to irragate. Agriculture is so much developed.

   The longest river throughout Shanxi is the 'Fenhe' river, that starts from Jingle county and enters Taiyuan from Shang Lan village; there are as well minor rivers like the 'Xiaohe' , ' Tunlan',' Dachuan' , ' Liulin', ' Linjing and 'Yangxing' reivers flowing though. Springs are abundant in mountainous areas, most typical is the 'Jinci' foutain with largest flow quantity. Lakes are 6 with the 'Jinyang' 'lake being the largest. Network of cannels at each bank of 'Fenhe' river brings ample water for the agriculture. Naturing continental monsoon climate, there is snow but not too much cold. There is much rain in the summer and it is dry and windy in the spring. It is warm and fine in autumn. Average temperature yearly is 9.5℃。

   It is -6.4℃ in Jan. and 23.5℃ in July. Frost period is from mid-October till mid April lasting 140-190 days. Annual precipitation is 500mm.