Qiantang River 钱塘江

About Qiantang River

Around Qianjiang New City, City Balcony’s raised public spaces open across the water towards the opposite-bank skyline. Farther upstream, the historic Qiantang River Bridge shows an earlier phase of the city’s connection across the river. The tidal bore is a variable river phenomenon, not something every waterfront visit will see; the changing water, bridges and urban panorama make a worthwhile visit without it.

The river's oldest recorded name, Zhejiang (浙江), first appears in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. From the Three Kingdoms period the name Qiantang River (钱唐江) was used for the stretch passing Qiantang County, the old name for Hangzhou, and was extended to the whole river only from the Republican era. Its winding course and rough waters near Hangzhou also gave it the name Zhijiang (之江).

The river's northern source, the Xin'an River (新安江), and its southern source, the Lanjiang (兰江), both rise in Xiuning County, Anhui, and join to form the Fuchun River (富春江); after the Puyang River (浦阳江) joins, it becomes the Qiantang River proper, forming part of the boundary of Xiaoshan, Haining and Shangyu before entering Hangzhou Bay between Haiyan and Cixi. It runs 609 kilometres in total and drains a basin of 55,491 square kilometres.

Below Zhakou in Hangzhou the river's channel shifts within flat banks on both sides, and its mouth forms a funnel-shaped estuary that narrows from 98.5 kilometres wide at the mouth of Hangzhou Bay to about 20 kilometres at Ganpu, about 11 kilometres near Yanguan, and roughly 1 kilometre at Zhakou.

What to look for

• The broad river panorama from the public spaces of City Balcony.
• The historic Qiantang River Bridge and its contrast with the newer waterfront skyline.

Location & getting there

Getting to Qiantang River

For a central waterfront visit, use City Balcony at the meeting of Jiefang East Road and Zhijiang Road in Qianjiang New City. Stay within the designated public riverfront areas. The historic Qiantang River Bridge is farther upstream and needs a separate transfer.