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New batch of wetlands listed for protection
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ZHEJIANG Province government declared its second batch of protected wetlands this month. The province boasts more than 1,100 square kilometers of wetlands, which cover 10.9 percent of its area.
Among them, 11 wetlands have been listed as nationally protected reserves and draw crowds of tourists every year.
Wetlands play important roles in the environment, principally in water purification, flood control, and helping shoreline stability.
They are also considered highly biologically diverse, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life.
In Zhejiang, most cities have their own wetlands. Hangzhou’s Xixi Wetland serves as the lung of the downtown area and a paradise for birds.
Shanghai Daily checked the list and picks a couple of cities that feature several wetlands. Readers can drive their cars at weekends and get close to nature — and some fresh air.
Hangzhou
The noteworthy Xixi Wetland might overshadow Xiang Lake and the Sanbaitan wetlands.
But last year, local authorities unveiled their 13th Five-year Plan (2016-20) for the city’s forestry development. The plan includes work on the lake and Sanbaitan.
Xiang Lake is often described as the “sister” of West Lake. It is located near the Yue Kingdom City Relic and Kuahu Bridge Cultural Relic Site. Saibaitan is Yuhang District’s largest lake. It connects with the Grand Canal and is rich in fish.
And Chun’an County’s Qianmutian Wetland is also included on the protected list.
It is a mountainous marsh with oddly shaped stones, waterfalls, creeks, forests and shrouded mists.
It is also one of the most popular hiking routes in northern Zhejiang Province.
Taizhou
The city has two wetlands on the new list, including Haishan Town Mangrove Wetland and the Pishan Oceanic Protected Zone.
The first marsh is in Yuhuan County. Locals started to grow mangroves in 2006 and now the area has reached 120 hectares, making Yuhuan have the northernmost mangroves in the country. The earliest batch of the trees has already grown to 2 meters.
Mangroves are dubbed “coastal warriors” because they prevent salt intake and water loss, protect shoreline stability, act as a carbon sink, and help increase biodiversity. Today, this mangrove swamp has already become an ideal habitat for migrant birds.
Pishan was formerly a noted fishery with an abundance of yellow croakers, which is a popular fish with diners in Zhejiang Province. But over-fishing drove down fish stocks.
The local government set up a protected area and bred fish to preserve the ocean environment. After two decades of protection, fish stocks have gradually recovered.
Jinhua
Five wetlands in Jinhua are on the new list. Nanxi Bay Wetland is one of them. It sits at the southern side of Yongkang County, covering 100 hectares.
The local government is establishing a park to protect the environment and encourage tourism. The park is split into five distinctive segments.
The government is trying to rival the Xixi Wetland.
Ten Miles of Lotus in Wuyi County is another popular wetland.
It is a gathering place for the distinctive She minority ethnic group, which has planted more than 100 hectares of lotus there, creating a beautiful landscape in summer.
The wetland also houses an antique pagoda dating to the 1400s. It is the ideal spot for a panoramic view of the vast horizon of lotus flowers.
Visitors can also enjoy the She’s centuries-old history through their food and customs.
Jiaxing
Northern Zhejiang Province is dotted with many swamps that spread across Hangzhou, Huzhou and Jiaxing.
Jiaxing tops the list, with seven wetlands. The Grand Canal runs through the city, feeding the marshes alongside.
The canal section of Tongxiang County and the nearby wetlands are included on the list. Tongxiang also boasts other two wetlands: Baidangyang and Fanli Lake.
Baidangyang is a part of these densely distributed wetlands. It sits between Zhouquan and Dama towns and famous for its freshwater fish.
The thickly dotted mounds, where local farmers cultivate mulberry trees and reeds, distinguish its landscape. Now it is idyllic, with serene water and rustic rural life.
Fanli Lake covers 666 hectares. It is at the intersection of three rivers, which bring rich nutrition for fish. The lake was named after Fan Li, an ancient advisor living in Yue Kingdom of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).
In the legend, Fan Li retired from his ministerial post and lived with Xi Shi, one of the four ancient beauties in history, on a fishing boat, roaming like immortals in the misty wilderness of the lake. The story adds a mystic light to this lake.
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