province, along the southern section of the Taihang Mountains. The majority of the city's area is mountainous, and much of the remaining geography is hilly in nature. The average elevation in the city is approximately above sea level, with prominent peaks including Liyu Mountain () and Shigao Mountain (), reaching and above sea level, respectively. Climate Changzhi has a rather dry, monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), with cold and very dry winters, and very warm, somewhat humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from in January to in July, and the annual mean is . Typifying the influence of the East Asian Monsoon, a majority of the annual of precipitation occurs from June to August. Pollution Changzhi's air quality index is monitored by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) and city government. A record of daily air quality is published by the local government. In 2013, a major chemical spill occurred at a fertilizer plant in Changzhi operated by Tianji Coal Chemical Industry Group, polluting major waterways in the region, and impacting areas downstream, such as the city of Handan. Government officials in Handan blamed the city government of Changzhi for covering up the spill for five days, and remaining silent on the spill for the subsequent two months. In February 2013, the Xinhua News Agency announced the results of an official investigation into the spill, resulting in the punishment of 39 people, including then-mayor of Changzhi, Zhang Bao, who was removed from his position. In 2019, officials from the Shanxi Provincial Government publicly reprimanded officials from seven cities within the province, including Changzhi, following a noticeable spike in pollution. Education Higher education Changzhi Medical College Changzhi College High schools Changzhi No.1 Middle School Changzhi No.2 Middle School Changzhi No.3 Middle School Changzhi No.4 Middle School Changzhi No.5 Middle School Changzhi No.6 Middle School Changzhi No.7 Middle School Changzhi No.8 Middle School Changzhi No.9 Middle School Changzhi No.10 Middle School Changzhi Experimental Middle School Changzhi No.12 Middle School Changzhi No.13 Middle School Changzhi No.14 Middle School Changzhi No.15 Middle School Changzhi No.16 Middle School Changzhi No.17 Middle School Changzhi No.18 Middle School Changzhi No.19 Middle School Tai-Hang Middle School (Subsidiary Middle School of Changzhi College) Transportation Expressways Portions of three National Highways run through Changzhi: China National Highway 207, China National Highway 208, and China National Highway 309. National Highways 207 and 208 run along a north-south axis,