On December 10th, the awarding ceremony of “Yichang – China’s Climatically Livable City” was held in the city; the title was awarded by Wang Jinxing, Secretary General of the Chinese Meteorological Society. Ke Yiming, director of the Provincial Meteorological Bureau, attended the ceremony together with relevant officials from the Municipal Government.

　　In October this year, after being reviewed by experts organized by the Chinese Meteorological Society, Yichang achieved an Excellency rate of 85.5% in the 41 climatic livability indicators under such five categories as climate advantage, ecology, comfort, landscape, and risks. It has become the first city of the kindin Hubei Province, and it is also among the top prefecture-level cities nationwide.

　　Yichang is endowed with climatic advantages. It has four seasons, with rainfall and heat appearing at the same time. Its mountainous regions are cool in summer and its river valleys warm in winter. And its temperature is optimal in spring and autumn with an annual average of 17.1 ℃, and an annual average rainfall of 1161.0 mm. It also enjoys sufficient sunlight and plentiful heat, with an annual sunshine duration of 1419.9 hours and the humidity is moderate with an average relative rate of 75%. Besides, its annual comfortable windy days reach a total of 357.5, ranking first in the province.

　　In recent years, the construction of ecological civilization in Yichang has achieved remarkable results, with its climate and ecological environment continuously improving. In the past 4 years, the average number of days with good air in the city center has reached 258, with all indicators of its environmental air quality turning better. And the urban area is rich in forest resources, with a forest coverage rate of 78.6%. At the same time, the city abounds in biological resources, with its Chinese Sturgeon Nature Reserve, finless porpoise recreation area and more than 5,500 advanced plants, among which more than 40 are rare and endangered ones, accounting for over 10% of the total in China.

　　The climate in Yichang is suitable for people to live in comfort in an average of 267.5 days per year, which is more than 70% of the whole year. It is suitable to take vacation here almost all year round, with the climate index of nearly 8 months above comfort level for tourism.

　　The abundant climatic resources have produced such climatic scenery as morning glow, sea of clouds and rime in Yichang, as well as its natural landscape represented by the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and its cultural landscape represented by Three Gorges Project. Its early spring, temperate summer, late autumn and warm winter have brought about colorful phenology and rich products.

　　The city will make good use of the award and adhere to green, recycling and low-carbon development to promote its living quality and international popularity while effectively bringing into play the benefits of climatic resources in the livable and ecological construction through stressing the protection, development and utilization of the resources and focusing on the development an ecological economy with local characteristics. (Reporter: Tian Xiaochun)