The Only Wetland in China: Xixi National Wetland Park
By admin on 2014-12-22

Xixi National Wetland Park is located in the west of Hang Zhou City, Zhejiang Province, less than five kilometers away from West Lake. It covers an area of 10.08 square kilometers, among which 3.46 kilometers areas are open to public. The park is the first and the only national wetland park in China which combines urban wetland, farming wetland and cultural wetland. Xixi National Wetland Park features abundant ecological resources, beautiful natural scenes and rich cultural heritages. It was regarded as one of the "Three Xi" in Hangzhou along with West Lake and Xiling Seal Society.

The landscapes in Xixi are famous for its nature and simplicity. Experts summarize its features like this: Coldness, Wildness, Simplicity and Elegance. Coldness is quietude, means it is a peaceful place in a noisy city. Wildness suggests nature and a primitive land in human world. Simplicity means back to nature. Elegance suggests grace, you can feel the profound culture flavor here. Xixi has always been a best place for artists and writers to produce poems, calligraphy, paintings and epigraphy.

There are three causeways and ten sights in Xixi. The three causeways are Causeway Fu, Causeway Lu and Causeway Shou. In Chinese, the three words fu, lu and shou have the meaning of fortune, prosperity and longevity. Causeway Fu is 2,300 meters in length and 7 meters in width. It stretches through the park from south to north. Across the bank span six bridges with the Chinese character “fu”, respectively named Yuanfu Bridge, Yongfu Bridge, Qingfu Bridge, Xiangfu Bridge, Guangfu Bridge, Quanfu Bridge. Causeway Lu is 1,600 meters long and 7 meters wide. It stretches through the core reserve area from west to east. Causeway Shou is 3,600 meters long and 4.5 meters with, it is the longest one in the three. The ten sights are Qiu Lu Fei Xue, the only sight that can be reached by boat; Huo Shi Ying Bo; Exhibition of Dragon Boat Culture; Lian Tan Lu Ying, the main area for bird-watching; Charm of Hong Villa, the living place of the Hongs; Boat-rowing in the Moonlight; Fog and Water in Fishing Village; Qu Shui Xun Mei,a main place to view plum blossom; Gao's Villa  and Music Appreciation in Hezhu.

Water is the soul of the Xixi Wetland. About 70% of the area was covered by river harbors, ponds, lakes and marshes. Six creeks cross through the park which scattered numerous fish ponds which forms a unique scene of Xixi wetland.

In order to strengthen the ecology protection. People built three big ecological protection area, Fei Jia Tang, Xia Long Tan and Chao Tian Mu. An Ecological Recovery Area was built too. There is a wetland museum at the entry. Xixi is also a heaven for birds, many Bird-Watching Pavilion were built here. You can see the magnificent sight of a group of flying birds.

Xixi was regarded as a pure land on earth by many literators. Qiu Xue Hut , Bo Hut, Plum and Bamboo Villa and Xixi Grass Hall are the places where ancient literators produced their works. It is said that the ancient stage under the old camphor in Shen Tan Kou was the first performing place of Yueju Opera.

The folkway in Xixi is very simplicity. Exhibition of dragon boat culture will be held here every year. The dragon boat exhibition had a long history and unique form which was praised as Figure Dragon Boat.

There are also restaurants, snacks outlet, conference rooms, educational center and a science laboratory at Xi Xi. The Xixi wetland is a beautifully tranquil rural water town, a healthy respite from crowded city life.

Xixi National Wetland Park
Address: No. 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Admission fee: RMB 80
Opening hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 pm.
Transportation:
Bus: No. 310, K506, K193, Y13

Xixi National Wetland Park