Introduction

Located at the western part of Hangzhou City, less than 5 km from the West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park is a unique venue considering its urban neighbourhood. The park is the first and only wetland park to have integrated urban life with farming and culture. Along with Xihu (West Lake) and Xiling (Xiling Seal Engravers' Society) famed, respectively, for their abundant natural scenery and cultural heritage, Xixi National Wetland Park is known as one of the “Three Xi's of Hangzhou”.  

The park covers a total area of 11.5 sq km and consists of three causeways and ten famous sights. River ports, ponds, small lakes and marshes occupy approximately 70% of the park which explains its wetland environment. With criss-crossing rivers the whole wetland is divided into different sections: the east, the west and the central part, the latter is the place where the majority of tourists visit while the other parts are fairly quiet.

Recently the government set up ecological protection zones of Feijiatang Pond, Xialongtan Shoal and Chaotianmu Lake which includes an ecological rehabilitation zone and three biological rehabilitation ponds and an ecological sightseeing zone. There is also a Wetland Science Exhibition Hall which can be found at the park’s main entrance.

The park has a long history with profound cultural heritage and it has even been regarded as a pure land for hermits. Qiuxue'an and Bo'an, Meizhu Villa and Xixicao Institute were all established by famous literati in history. With its wonderful landscape and natural environment Xixi is not only a paradise for flora and fauna but for many birds too. With flocks of birds flying freely in the sky, Xixi is a harmonious window to a natural eco-system.

Xixi National Wetland Park is also the place where the annual “Xixi International Dragon Boat Race” is held. Traditionally, this festival was to mourn the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (343 BC–278 BC) but now Xixi International Dragon Boat Race, with its strong charisma and traditional customs, has become a carnival for all Hangzhou citizens.