Quzhou belonged to the Yue State before and in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476). In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the government set up Xin'an Shire, which was the original form of Quzhou. In 1949, Quzhou was liberated and it became a prefecture-level city in 1985. Mountains in the south and north form a basin in the middle, which is high in the west and low in the east. Mountains and hills occupy about 85% of the whole area, leaving the 15% plains and basins. Quzhou enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate with distinctive four seasons. Spring and summer are abundant in rain and sunshine. Late summer is when typhoon frequently happens. Autumn is cool and pleasant without too much rain. Winter is cold and snowy. Best time to visit Quzhou is spring or late autumn.