Da'an Nenjiang Bay Tourist Area is located in Da'an City, Baicheng City, Jilin Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, situated on the left bank of the lower reaches of the Nenjiang River. It is a natural river bay wetland formed before the Nenjiang River flows into the Songhua River. The total area of the scenic area is 3.5 square kilometers, of which the wetland area accounts for about 80%, covering various ecological landscapes such as swamps, lakes, and meadows. It is an important eco-tourism destination in western Jilin Province. The scenic area features "ecological wetlands and the charm of the Liao and Jin dynasties". It not only preserves a complete wetland ecosystem but also distributes historical relics from the Liao and Jin periods, forming a unique landscape where nature and humanity blend. Facilities such as wetland boardwalks, bird-watching platforms, and the Liao and Jin Museums have been built in the area, with a total construction area of about 8,000 square meters, providing tourists with various tourism services such as ecological sightseeing, cultural experience, and leisure vacations. The annual number of tourists received exceeds 500,000.
Historical Culture
The area around Da'an Nenjiang Bay has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were human activities. In recent years, a large number of stone axes, pottery, and other cultural relics have been unearthed, proving that this was one of the settlements of ancient nomadic peoples.
During the Liao and Jin dynasties, the Nenjiang River basin became an important transportation artery and military stronghold for the Liao and Jin dynasties. Nenjiang Bay, located at the intersection of land and water, became a commercial and trade transfer station at that time. The ancient city sites (with a circumference of about 1,500 meters), tombs, and ceramic fragments from the Liao and Jin periods found in the scenic area witnessed the prosperity of this period. Among them, the unearthed Liao Dynasty "Da'an Tongbao" coins, Jin Dynasty copper sitting dragons, and other cultural relics are now collected in the Liao and Jin Museums in the scenic area, providing important material for studying the Liao and Jin cultures in Northeast China.
In addition, Nenjiang Bay was also the location of Da'an Town, one of the "Seven Towns Outside the Border" in the Qing Dynasty. It was once an important node for material exchange between the northeast border and the interior, leaving historical relics such as post stations and wharves, forming a unique imprint of border culture.
Main Attractions
Nenjiang Wetland Core Area
The Nenjiang Wetland Core Area is the ecological main body of the scenic area, covering an area of about 2.8 square kilometers. It consists of reed swamps, shoal lakes, herbaceous swamps, etc., and is one of the important wetland ecosystems in Northeast China. There are more than 200 species of plants in the area, including aquatic plants such as reeds, cattails, and water lilies, as well as more than 150 species of birds such as red-crowned cranes, white storks, and wild geese. Among them, there are 6 species of national first-class protected birds and 28 species of national second-class protected birds. The scenic area has built a 3.5-kilometer-long wooden boardwalk that winds through the wetland, with 5 bird-watching platforms along the way (the highest point is 130 meters above sea level). Tourists can watch wetland landscapes and bird activities up close, making it an ideal place for ecological photography and nature education.
Liao and Jin Museum
The Liao and Jin Museum is located at the entrance of the scenic area, with a construction area of 2,000 square meters. It opened to the public in 2010 and is a special museum displaying the Liao and Jin cultures in the Nenjiang River basin. The museum is divided into three exhibition halls: "Land of the Liao and Jin", "Trading Artery", and "Cultural Integration". It exhibits more than 300 cultural relics, including Liao Dynasty ceramic vessels, Jin Dynasty weapons, and bronze mirrors. Among them, the treasure of the museum, the "Jin Dynasty Copper Sitting Dragon" (18 cm high and 2.5 kg heavy), has an exquisite shape and high historical value. Through scene restoration and multimedia demonstrations, the museum vividly reproduces the commercial activities and folk life of Nenjiang Bay during the Liao and Jin periods, and is an important window to understand the local historical culture.
Dragon Stone Square
Dragon Stone Square is located in the central area of the scenic area, covering an area of 12,000 square meters, and is named after the "Dragon Stone" in the center of the square. The stone is a natural granite, 8 meters long, 3 meters high, and weighs about 50 tons. The surface of the stone naturally forms dragon-like patterns, which is said to have been named by the Liao Dynasty emperor during his inspection tour. Around the square, there are 12 stone pillars carved with patterns from the Liao and Jin periods, symbolizing the 12 tribes of the Liao Dynasty. A large relief wall is set up on the north side of the square, depicting the life scenes of the Nenjiang River basin during the Liao and Jin periods, making it a popular place for tourists to relax and take photos.
Boat Terminal
The boat terminal is located on the bank of the Nenjiang River, covering an area of 5,000 square meters, and has 20 various boats, including painted boats, speedboats, and pedal boats. Tourists can take boats to visit the waters of Nenjiang Bay. The routes are divided into short routes (1.5 kilometers, 30 minutes of visiting time) and long routes (5 kilometers, 1 hour of visiting time). Along the way, they can enjoy wetland scenery, river bay sunsets, and other landscapes. In winter, they can also experience special projects such as ice fishing. There are water platforms, rest pavilions, and other facilities around the terminal, which is the main area for experiencing water activities in the scenic area.
Folk Village
The Folk Village is located in the northeast of the scenic area, covering an area of 15,000 square meters, and focuses on displaying the traditional folk culture of Northeast China. There are 10 residential buildings imitating the Liao and Jin periods in the village, including thatched houses and log houses, reproducing the living environment of ancient nomadic and farming peoples. There is also a folk performance area in the village, where traditional programs such as Northeast Yangko and Manchu Shaman Dance are performed every day. Tourists can participate in folk experience activities such as paper-cutting, embroidery, and pottery making to feel the charm of Northeast folk culture. The "Folk Restaurant" in the village offers special foods such as iron pot stew and sticky bean buns, with an average consumption of about 40 yuan per person.
Food
Da'an Nenjiang Fish
Da'an Nenjiang Fish is a signature dish of the scenic area. It uses wild carp, crucian carp, catfish, etc. from the Nenjiang River, and is stewed slowly in a large iron pot with tofu and vermicelli using the traditional Northeast "kua dun" (a way of stewing) method. The meat is tender and the soup is rich. The "Jiangwan Fish Restaurant" in the scenic area is the first choice to taste this dish. A 3-jin Nenjiang carp costs about 80 yuan, suitable for 2-3 people. In summer, it can be paired with freshly picked reed buds, dandelions, and other wild vegetables for a better flavor.
Iron Pot Stewed Goose
Iron Pot Stewed Goose is a traditional Northeast dish. The "Farmyard" around the scenic area is famous for this dish. It uses locally raised big white geese, which are chopped into pieces and stewed slowly with potatoes, corn, and vermicelli in an iron pot over firewood for 1.5 hours. The meat is firm and has a strong sauce flavor. A pot of iron pot stewed goose suitable for 4-5 people costs about 160 yuan, and it is a typical representative of Northeast rural diet when eaten with corn cakes (stuck on the edge of the pot).
Sticky Bean Buns
Sticky bean buns are traditional Northeast pasta, and you can taste the authentic flavor in the folk village of the scenic area. It uses fermented yellow rice flour as the skin, filled with red bean paste or mung bean paste, and eaten with white sugar after steaming. The taste is glutinous and sweet. The sticky bean buns in the folk village are sold by piece, 1 yuan each, and can be paired with soybean milk (3 yuan per bowl) for breakfast. Eating them in winter has the effect of warming the stomach, reflecting the simplicity and affordability of Northeast food.
Da'an Roast Whole Lamb
Da'an Roast Whole Lamb uses locally raised goats, marinated with secret seasonings, and slowly roasted with fruit charcoal for 3 hours. The outer skin is crispy and the meat is tender. It is a special food for local banquets. The "Grassland Roast Whole Lamb Villa" near the scenic area offers this dish. A 5-6 jin roast whole lamb costs about 600 yuan, suitable for 8-10 people, and is usually paired with roasted vegetables, milk tea, etc., with a strong grassland food flavor.
Tickets
Ticket price: 45 yuan per person.
Free admission is available until December 31, 2025.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "大安嫩江湾旅游区" to get the latest updates or book tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted according to the season: during the peak season (April 1 - October 31), it is open from 8:00 to 18:00 (admission stops at 17:30); during the off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the next year), it is open from 9:00 to 16:00 (admission stops at 15:30). Among them, the boat service is only available in the peak season, with daily operating hours from 9:00 to 17:00; the Liao and Jin Museum has the same opening hours as the scenic area and is closed every Monday (except legal holidays); some projects in the Folk Village are suspended in winter (December - February).
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area at 8:30 am, first visit the Liao and Jin Museum (1 hour) to learn about the historical culture of the Nenjiang River basin; go to Dragon Stone Square at 9:30 (30 minutes) to enjoy the Dragon Stone and Liao-Jin reliefs; enter the Nenjiang Wetland Core Area at 10:00, walk along the wooden boardwalk, and watch birds at the bird-watching platform (2 hours), and you can stop at the rest pavilion on the way. Have lunch in the Folk Village at 12:30 noon and experience the iron pot stewed goose. Participate in paper-cutting and pottery experience activities in the Folk Village at 14:00 pm (1 hour); go to the boat terminal at 15:00 and take a long-route boat to visit Nenjiang Bay (1 hour); return to the scenic area exit at 16:30, and you can buy souvenirs such as reed paintings and fish-shaped pendants in the scenic area store on the way. If you visit in summer, you can stay until 18:00 to watch the river bay sunset.
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus No. 5 in Da'an City to reach the entrance of the scenic area directly, with a fare of 2 yuan. The departure time is from 6:30 to 17:30, once every 30 minutes, and the journey is about 20 minutes (from the urban area).
- Self-driving: Starting from Baicheng City, drive north along Nendan Expressway (G4512) for about 100 kilometers, get off at Da'an Exit, then drive east along Nenjiang Road for 5 kilometers to reach the scenic area, with a total driving time of 1.5 hours; the charging standard of the scenic area parking lot is 10 yuan/day for small cars and 20 yuan/day for large cars.
- Long-distance bus: Take a bus from Baicheng Bus Station to Da'an City, once an hour, with a fare of 25 yuan, and the journey is 1.5 hours; after arriving at Da'an Bus Station, take a taxi to the scenic area, about 3 kilometers, with a cost of 8 yuan.
- Train: Take train K7305 from Baicheng Station to Da'an Station, with a journey of 1 hour and 40 minutes, and a fare of 16.5 yuan; take a taxi from Da'an Station to the scenic area, about 6 kilometers, with a cost of 15 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Nenjiang Wetland Core Area: 3.5-kilometer wetland boardwalk, 5 bird-watching platforms, where you can watch more than 150 species of birds and wetland ecosystems, recommended visiting time is 2 hours.
- Liao and Jin Museum: More than 300 cultural relics from the Liao and Jin periods, with the "Jin Dynasty Copper Sitting Dragon" as the treasure of the museum, recommended visiting time is 1 hour.
- Boat Terminal: 5-kilometer long-route boat, where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the river bay and the sunset, a must-experience in summer, recommended visiting time is 1 hour.
- Folk Village: Liao-Jin style buildings and traditional folk performances, where you can participate in manual experiences, recommended visiting time is 1.5 hours.
Tour Suggestions
- The best visiting seasons are May-June (bird breeding period) and September-October (beautiful autumn scenery). A large number of migratory birds can be seen in May-June, and the wetland vegetation presents golden colors in September-October, with good photography effects; the temperature is high in summer (July-August), so you need to take sun protection measures; ice activities can be experienced in winter (December-February), but some attractions are closed.
- The wetland boardwalk is long, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes, carry mosquito repellent in summer, and pay attention to anti-slip in winter; there are no sunshade facilities in the scenic area, so you need to carry a sun hat and sunglasses in summer.
- For bird watching, it is recommended to carry a telescope (available for rent in the scenic area, 10 yuan per hour). Keep quiet when taking photos of birds to avoid disturbing them.
- For folk experience activities, you need to pay attention to the scenic area announcements in advance. Some performances have fixed times (such as Northeast Yangko at 10:00 and 14:00 every day).
- The catering price in the scenic area is relatively high. You can bring your own drinking water and dry food, or choose to eat in Da'an City, which is more cost-effective.
Matters Needing Attention
- The wetland core area is an ecological protection area. Picking plants, disturbing birds, and littering are prohibited. Violators will be fined 50-200 yuan.
- Boat passengers must abide by safety regulations, wear life jackets, and children must be accompanied by adults. Boats will be suspended in bad weather (such as strong winds and thunderstorms).
- Using flash photography is prohibited in the Liao and Jin Museum, touching exhibits is prohibited, and quiet must be maintained.
- There are many tourists on weekends and holidays during the peak season (May-October). It is recommended to travel at off-peak hours (enter the park before 9:00 am or after 16:00 pm) to avoid crowds.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of the scenic area, and there is no network coverage in some areas. It is recommended to agree on a meeting time and place with your companions. There is a tourist service center at the entrance of the scenic area, which can provide emergency help.