Keqiao District is located in south of Hangzhou Bay facing Guijishan Mountain’s northern slope. It borders Shangyu District on its east, respectively adjoins Shengzhou City and Zhuji City on southeast and southwest, and neighbors Xiaoshan District on west and northwest. On its north is the sea and Yuechang District lies across its middle part. The whole district of Keqiao is around 1040 square kilometers.

【Terrain】

Keqiao is high in southwest and low in northeast, and includes mountains, plains and seacoast. Due to Jiangshan-Shaoxing Fracture Zone, there is an obvious dividing line between massif in southwest part and plain in northeast.

【low hills, river valleys in southwest part】

Guijishan Mountain has it end go into south part of the county, shaping a stretch of low rugged hills and river valleys around 130 million years ago, which is basically stable. There were frequent agricultural activities here in Neolithic Era. Now it grows tea plants, white mulberry, fruits and dry corns, playing an important role in Shaoxing’s agricultural production.

In the region, there are continuous mountains, which rise sharply and cause tattered landform. The streams are short and torrential, generally 300 to 400 meters for altitude. The relief slants sharply towards northeast, and when it gets down to altitude of 20 meters, it meets numerous piedmont alluvial fans and northern alluvial plain, inclinations mainly being 15°～25° and over 25°. Here has various landforms, valley, low hill, high hill and low maintains. There are towns including Xialu, Xingtang, Lizhu, Lanting, Pingshui, Shixie and Xiaoshunjiang here, and it also has basins of Wangtan and Pingshui, which are not so large and have narrow mountain ridges and torrential streams. The water is rich in sand so obvious alleviation can be seen. There are lager area of slope and terrace meeting with plain which abounds in water canals. Lizhu, Lanting and Shangjiang have larger slope and terrace among mentioned towns and its gradient is less than 10°with thick soil layer, suitable for farming.

【Water-side plain in middle and north part】

In primitive time, Shanhui Plain was a shallow coastal region hit by irregular tide. Present Lizhu and pingshui are both between seaside mountainous region and seashore. After asnmonia regression, the seashore moved northwards and formed a seashore line similar to present one. Then the earth under shallow seawater began to rise, and because of rich sand from massif and sluggish liman, the shallow costal region gradually rose and changed into swampy land hit by frequent salt tide. In around 21st century BC, Yue people (ancient resident in Zhenjiang) started to farm here after Dayu (legendary king and hero) controlled flood and Wuyu (the first king of ancient Yue Kingdom) was entitled as the king of Yue. About 3000 years ago, tribe chef of Yue people lead the tribe to move to north from Guijishan Mountain, so piedmont alluvial fan, some large hill area in plain and near slope were developed, alluvial fan plain in the milder taking shape. In early 5th century, Goujian, the King of Yue Kingdom, moved the capital to current Yeucheng, and developed large area of farmland near north piedmont alluvial fan after effort of city building, wall establishment, embankment setting, ponding, tide resistance and fresh water impounding. Between Qin and Han Dynasty, Yue people were forced move and northern resident moved to south, which accelerated development of swampy land. In Eastern Han Dynasty, Ma Zhnejun made Junhu Lake and reclaimed over 9000 qing (1 qing ≈66,666 square meteres) farmland. In the second of year of Chuigong in Tang Dynasty (686 DC), the border pond between Shanyin and Xiaoshan was created. In the tenth year of Kaiyuan (722 DC), the leader of Guiji Lijun was in charge of Shanhui Seawall, which was repaired and fortified respectively in the 10th year of Dali (775 DC) and the 6th year of Dahe (832 DC), and after that over 50 km seawall was set up lying from Shangyu in the east to Shanyin in the west, helping Shanhui Plain completely take shape.

In the plain except for rare monadnock of igneous rock, the rest are all plain area caused by alleviation, sedimentation or marine deposition. The flat plain has an average altitude of 6 to 7 meter. The narrow and long stretch near north part of ancient seawall is also flat and 4.5 meter in altitude. It has small number of rivers which are narrow, shaping a transitional zone for coastal mud flat. In the vast plain, there are numerous rivers and lakes, and there are as many as 226 villages whose name are related to lake, bridge, dam, river, pond, bank, harbor, river side. The farmland is cut into larger or small pieces surrounded by linking canals, so it produces unique sight of water-side village.

【Coastal plain in northeast】

Pushed by tide of Qingtangjiang River and Caoejinag River, north river bank was constantly eroded and the siltation appeared in south bank. Between the year of Yongle and Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1403 DC ～ 1620 DC), Qingtang River’s main channel moved northwards, and shoal in Shanyin and Guiji extended. So people came to develop it by growing cotton, flax, rice, melons and vegetable. During the period of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (1851～1861), the sand land in estuary had an area over 40,000 mu (1 mu ≈ 666 square meters). In late Qing Dynasty and early period of Republic of China, the shoal once expanded 10 km and moved towards Hangzhou Bay, shaping reclaiming area of Mopanqiu, Doufufan etc. After that period, due to south channel of Qiantangjiang River drifted, most area of shoal collapsed and almost disappeared completely before foundation of PRC. From 1969 the government began large project of reclamation land from shoal, which has achieved 76 square kilometers, taking up 47% of total shoal area. In October 2002, the second stage of 97 Qiu Project began with an investment of 158 million yuna and the goal of reclaiming 450 hectares land from shoal area. In 28th October, 2006,the last stage of project for watercourse regulation and reclamation from shoal started. The plan is divided into 3 phrases with the purpose of building 2 dykes. The west dyke is 1997 meters in length, while north 2186 meters. And the actual reclamation area is 316.67 hectares, requiring stone dam as long as 4183 meters, and 4130 meters of dyke.

The siltation shoal takes up about 10% of total district area. In the district the earth is flat and rich in artificial cannels. Its altitude is 5 meters as a seashore plain, so the in fact Keqiao District possesses a stepwise terrain—mountain, plain and coastal region.

【Major mountains and peaks】

Guijishan Mountain is the border between Caoejinag River and Puyangjiang River, and has its peak, Taibai Mountain, as high as over 1000 meters, in the junction of Zhuji and Shengzhou. Its north part goes into Keqiao District from Zhuji and Shengzhou in southwest, and has two peaks:

Zhenru Mountain. It’s located in Shengzhou as high as over 700 meters and stretches into Sun’ao Village, Wangtan Town of Keqiao District. In Sun’ao, the mountain is called Wubaigang and 500 meters in height. Its end part continuously stretches northeast to bank of Caoejiang River. Its major peaks are Xiongefeng, Sifengshan, Yatangshan, Longtangshan, all seated to the east back of Xiaoshunjiang River.

Luojiajian Mountain. It is seated in southwest of Jiaowu Village, Jidong Town, as high as 700 meters.

【Rivers and laks】

All rivers in Keqiao District originate from south of Guijishan Mountain, and flow through the plain in the middle part into Caoejiang River and Qiantangjiagn River except for Xiaoshunjiang River. These rivers, in past, belonged to natural drainage system, then changed to Jianhu lake drainage system, then canal river drainage system. Now they belong to Xiaoshunjiang River or canal River drainage systems, mainly to the latter, while all belong to Caoejiang River drainage system.

【Land resources 】

Shaoxing’s coverage changed frequently in history and it has inadequate record. It’s not until period of Wangli in Dynasty that Shaoxing has some chronological records on its acreage.

According to Shaoxing Government Record, in 24th year of Hongwu (1391), the two counties of Shanyin and Guiji had land total in 2184279 mus. In 13th year of Wangli (1585), the two counties had land up to 2215007 mus.

In Shaoxing Government Record made in period of Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, it shows that in 10th year of Kangxi (1671), the two counties had 2246859 mus of land while 2263086 mus in 49th year of Qianlong (1784).

According to Zhejinag Province Record Revision made in period of Republic of China, in 18th year of ROC (1929), Shaoxing County reported that it had land of 2672558 mus, including public and private land. In 24th year of ROC (1935), in Analysis on County Acreage of Zhejiang, it recorded that the total area of Shaoxing was 3124832.26 mus. According to Economic Yearbook of Zhejiang Bank, Shaoxing’s acreage in 35th (1946), 36th (1947), 38th (1949) year of ROC, (excluding the bay) was all 2873500 mus (1915.66 square kilometers).

After foundation of the People’s Republic of China, the coverage of Shaoxing County changed 11 times during 1950s, and reduced by 474.6 square kilometers in land area. In 1959 its total area was 1441 square kilometers (144100 hectares), excluding the bay. In 1983 due to alteration of administrative level, Shaoxing was again set as a county, and its area decreased to 1392 square kilometers (139200 hectares). According to the land resources data made in 1991, area of total county is 1492.51 square kilometers (including the bay), that is 149251 hectares. In July 2000, there was another administrative region adjustment. For the adjustment, the 5 towns, Dongfu, Mashan, Doumen, Gaofu, Jianhu, total in 19.21 square kilometers, were granted to Yuechang District, reducing entire Shaoxing County area to 1252.81square kilometers (125281 hectares). In 2003, 15 villages in Qixian Town, up to 19.21 square kilometers, were granted to other region, so Shaoxing County area shrank to 1233.6 square kilometers (123360 hectares). In October 2013, approved by the State Council, Shaoxing County was changed into Keqiao District, and Shaoxing City was set up. The towns of Sunduan, Taoyan and Fusheng, originally belonging to Shaoxing County, were granted to Yuecheng District, and Keqiao District area reduced to 1040 square kilometers. Keqiao District possesses small amount of backing land.

【Water resources】

The major water resources of Keqiao District are rain. Keqiao has abundant rainfall every year, and rainfall in each season differs greatly. In 2012, according to average rainfall, it had surface runoff in 1.52272 billion cubic meters and underground water in 305.97 million cubic meters. 205.65 million cubic meters was doubly counted by the two data, so per capita water resources of Keqiao were 2231.9 cubic meters based on population of 727200 in end of 2012.

【Biology resources 】

According to Shaoxing Government Record made in 1998 (new version), through catalogue sorting of wild birds, animals, crops and economic insects collected by local research institutions, medical and health departments, colleges and related organizations, the District occupies major wild animals and plants up to 1521 species. For the plants, they belong to 931 species, 187 families, and 8 phyla; for animals, they belong to 59 species, 213 families, 16 orders, 12 classes, 2 kinds, 9 phyla. Among its various plants and animals, 24 are under national protection. (Chinese) tulip tree, Eucommia ulmoides, gingko, Pseudolarix Cinnamomum pedunculatgum rank as the grade 2 national protected plants. Magnolia biloba ranks as grand 3 national protected plant. Pangolin, otter, jackal, Silver Pheasant, Numenius minutes, Collared Owlet, Cynops orientalis, tiger frog, together with 5 eagles, 2 falcons are in the list of grade 2 national protected animals. 7 animals, Elaphe taeniura, cobra, agkistrodon, Terpsiphone paradisi, Eurasian Hoopoe, Cuculus canorus, Elaphodus cephalophus are under provincial protection.

【Mineral resources 】

The District is rich in mineral resources. Since the mineral exploration beginning in 1958, 32 mines and 85 mineral occurrences have been confirmed. Endogenic deposit contributes iron, copper, gold, polymetallic ore, fluorite, working as major producing area for raw material of steel, metallurgy, chemical industry in Zhejiang. Exogenetic deposit contributes stone coal, peat, phosphor, potassium, quartz, limestone, dolomite etc. In north part of the District, it has natural gas in its quaternary strata.Most of mines including gold, copper, iron, aluminum, zinc are distributed in Shuangxiwu’s Algonkian metavolcanite. Stone coal, phosphor, potassium, quartz, limestone, dolomite are mainly located in Paleozoic strata of southwest part, while fluorite, obsidian, perlite are located in volcanic rock of Jurassic Period.

【Climate features】

Keqiao District is seated in north-center of Zhejiang Province, with its north part lying in Yushao Plain, south part neighboring Guijishan Mountain. It enjoys mild climate and distinct seasons, together with rich rainfall. The rainfall differs greatly in four seasons. The District is in east Asian monsoon region, so it has  obvious monsoon climate.Its annual average temperature is 17.0℃. The lowest annual average temperature, 15.8℃, appeared in 1984, and the highest one 18.7℃ appeared in 2007. In the all year round, January is coldest with lowest monthly average temperature of 0.3℃ appearing in January 1977.The hottest month is July, which was hit by highest monthly average temperature in July 2003 as high as 31.6℃. The extremely high temperature is 39.9℃, appearing in 17th July, 2003 and 19th July, 2009. The extremely low one is -10.2℃, which came on 29th December, 1991. The District has an average rainfall of 1469.8mm. The year of 1975 received rainfall as much as 1806.2mm as the richest year; the least one is 911mm in 1967. Its flood season mainly comes between May and October. There are averagely 158.6 rainy days in a year, and the maximum of rainy day recorded is 227, while minimum 134. Its average relative humidity is 78.9％, and annual average sunshine time is 1803.9 hours. Main weather disasters suffering it include typhoon, rainstorm, high wind, thunderstorm, high temperature, long-time cold raining, hail, cold wave etc.

Monthly Average Temperature and Monthly Extrema (1981-2010)