Hebei Province is situated in east China and
extends across the Middle and South Temperate Zones. So, it has a temperate and
continental monsoon climate.
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Winter scenes at the Jiulongtan Natural Scenic Spot
in Xinglong County |
Hebei has
a large area with the Bohai Sea to the east, the Taihang Mountains in the west,
the Yanshan Mountains in the north, and the plain areas in the southeast.
Because of its large size, its location on the continent and its diversified
topography, its weather differs greatly, characterized by monsoons and a clear
distinction between four seasons. It is dry and windy in spring; hot and rainy
in summer; bright and temperate in autumn; and windy, cold and with less snow in
winter.
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Autumn scenes at the Jiulongtan Natural Scenic Spot
in Xinglong County |
The average temperature for a year
increases gradually from north to south. In the north, such as the Bashang
plateau area, the annual average temperature is below 4°C while in central
south, it is 12°C. January is the coldest month. The average temperature is
below -3°C. for most areas but for the Bashang Plateau, it can be as low as
-21°C. July is the hottest month, with an average temperature between 18°C. -
27°C. for the whole province. But for the southwestern area, it can be as high
as 39°C- 40°C. The time length for every season is not the same, 2 months for
spring and for autumn, and 4 months for winter and summer. In the Bashang
Plateau, winter is as long as 7-8 months but summer is only one month. The
average frost-free period is 180 days in the plain area while less than 100 days
in the plateau area. The Bashang Plateau and the mountainous areas in the north,
high in attitude and low in temperature, are suitable for special plants. The
central and south plain areas, low in attitude, high in temperature and with
plenty of sunshine, are good for growing crops.
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Skiing Ground in Chongli
County |
Next only to Tibet and the plateau regions in northwestern China, Hebei is one
of the regions with longer hours of sunshine, between 2,450-3,100 hours per
year. The percentage of sunshine is 57-69. Its accumulated temperature over zero
ranges from 4,000°C.- 4,800°C. a year. For the Bashang Plateau area, the
accumulated temperature over zero is less than 4,000°C. a
year.
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Skiing Ground in Chongli
County |
The annual precipitation is 350-760
mm. with a disparity between seasons and between regions. Hebei receives more
precipitation in summer and autumn than in winter and spring, and its southern
and eastern parts get more than north and west. From June to September, it
receives 60-80 percent of the total annual precipitation but in winter and
spring, it receives only 10 percent. In the Bashang Plateau and northwestern
mountainous areas, the annual precipitation is less than 400 mm. So, they are
the dry areas. The Taihang Mountains lies in the west of Hebei Province and the
Yanshan Mountains lies in the north and northwest. Both of them face to the
Bohai Sea in the east. When the wet and mild air from the sea goes westward and
northward it meets the mountains and forms rain clouds. These areas, known as
wet areas, receive an annual precipitation of 600-850 mm. As the rainy season
(June to September) fit the sunshine period (March to September) on the whole,
this is really a good condition for crops, grasses and forests.
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