# Laohekou

Laohekou (Chinese: 老河口; pinyin: Lǎohékǒu; lit. 'old river mouth') is a county-level city in the northwest of Hubei province, People's Republic of China. It is located on the Han River (Hanshui), near the Henan border.
The entire county-level city has an area of 1,032 square kilometres (398 sq mi) and a population of 490,000 (2002). It falls under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang City. The area includes the city of Laohekou proper, which has an area of 27 square kilometres (10 sq mi).
Before the Communist Revolution, the city was the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Laohekou.

## Geography and Climate

Laohekou has a monsoon-influenced, four season humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with cold, damp (but comparatively dry), winters, and hot, humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) in January to 27.4 °C (81.3 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 15.87 °C (60.6 °F). A majority of the annual precipitation of 830 mm (33 in) occurs from June to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 33% in January to 46% in August, the city receives 1,762 hours of bright sunshine annually; January thru March is the cloudiest period of the year.
Climate data for Laohekou, elevation 132 m (433 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.7 (71.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 29.7 (85.5) | 35.0 (95.0) | 37.5 (99.5) | 40.7 (105.3) | 39.7 (103.5) | 39.7 (103.5) | 38.5 (101.3) | 34.5 (94.1) | 29.4 (84.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 40.7 (105.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.7 (45.9) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.2 (61.2) | 22.7 (72.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 31.0 (87.8) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 27.5 (81.5) | 22.4 (72.3) | 15.9 (60.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 21.3 (70.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.6 (51.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.7 (78.3) | 27.7 (81.9) | 26.8 (80.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 17.1 (62.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 5.1 (41.2) | 16.1 (61.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.7 (30.7) | 1.6 (34.9) | 6.1 (43.0) | 11.7 (53.1) | 16.9 (62.4) | 21.4 (70.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 18.8 (65.8) | 13.1 (55.6) | 6.6 (43.9) | 1.2 (34.2) | 12.0 (53.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −17.2 (1.0) | −9.9 (14.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | 0.1 (32.2) | 6.3 (43.3) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.4 (63.3) | 15.4 (59.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | −0.1 (31.8) | −4.1 (24.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −17.2 (1.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 22.5 (0.89) | 21.9 (0.86) | 46.4 (1.83) | 60.8 (2.39) | 93.3 (3.67) | 87.5 (3.44) | 126.4 (4.98) | 129.1 (5.08) | 78.8 (3.10) | 67.6 (2.66) | 42.9 (1.69) | 17.5 (0.69) | 794.7 (31.28) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 6.0 | 7.3 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 11.2 | 10.0 | 11.4 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 111.3 |
| Average snowy days | 4.3 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 12.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 71 | 71 | 72 | 71 | 74 | 81 | 80 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 71 | 74 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 96.3 | 100.6 | 132.3 | 158.0 | 168.4 | 158.4 | 161.4 | 163.5 | 129.7 | 127.6 | 115.0 | 105.9 | 1,617.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 30 | 32 | 35 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 40 | 35 | 37 | 37 | 34 | 36 |
| Source 1: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather China ||||||||||||||

## Administrative divisions

Two subdistricts:
* Guanghua Subdistrict (光化街道), Zanyang Subdistrict (酂阳街道)
Seven towns:
* Menglou (孟楼镇), Zhulinqiao (竹林桥镇), Xueji (薛集镇), Zhangji (张集镇), Xianrendu (仙人渡镇), Hongshanzui (洪山嘴镇), Lilou (李楼镇)
The only township is Yuanchong Township (袁冲乡)
Other areas:
* Shucai Seed Stock Station (蔬菜原种场), Baihuashan Forestry Area (百花山林场), Linmaoshan Forestry Area (林茂山林场), Erfangying Seed Stock Station (二房营原种场)

## Transport

Laohekou is served by the Hankou–Danjiangkou Railway and the Laohekou Airport.