Hongze Lake Wetland Scenic Area is located in Sihong County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, one of China's top ten ecological leisure bases, and the largest and most ecologically complete inland freshwater wetland scenic area in East China. The total area of the scenic area is 75.03 square kilometers, with wetland areas accounting for more than 70%, covering various wetland types such as swamps, lakes, rivers, and tidal flats. It serves as an important ecological barrier and migratory bird habitat in the Hongze Lake region. The scenic area features "wetland ecology, bird watching, and popular science education" as its core characteristics, with attractions like the Wetland Museum, Bird Watching Garden, and Reed Maze. It is equipped with over 50 kilometers of ecological trails, more than 20 viewing platforms, and various popular science facilities, attracting a large number of tourists every year to experience the beauty of wetland ecology.
History and Culture
The formation of Hongze Lake Wetland is closely related to the evolution of Hongze Lake. As China's fourth-largest freshwater lake, Hongze Lake has a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. After thousands of years of siltation and management, it has gradually formed the current lake wetland ecosystem. Sihong County, surrounding the wetland, is one of the important birthplaces of ancient Huaihe River culture. Human activities existed here as early as the Neolithic Age. The Shunshanji Site discovered in the area, dating back about 8,000 years, is the earliest known Neolithic cultural site in the lower reaches of the Huaihe River, providing an important basis for studying the interaction between early humans and the natural environment around the wetland.
Historically, Hongze Lake Wetland was an important water transportation hub and fishery production area. Fishermen's culture has been passed down here from generation to generation, forming unique folk cultures such as "fishing songs, fishing drums, and fishing proverbs". The "Fishermen's Customs Garden" in the scenic area restores the traditional living scenes of fishermen and displays traditional skills such as fishing gear production and fish processing. In 2006, Hongze Lake Wetland was listed as a national nature reserve; in 2015, it was awarded the title of national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, becoming a comprehensive wetland scenic area integrating ecological protection, cultural inheritance, and tourism and leisure.
Main Attractions
Wetland Museum
The Wetland Museum is the popular science core of the scenic area, with a construction area of about 8,000 square meters, divided into 6 exhibition halls including wetland ecology, biodiversity, and human history. Through multimedia interactions, specimen displays, and scene restoration, the museum systematically introduces the formation, evolution, and ecological value of Hongze Lake Wetland. It exhibits more than 1,000 animal and plant specimens, including specimens of national first-class protected animals such as red-crowned cranes and oriental storks. The 4D cinema in the museum can accommodate 200 people, reproducing the four seasons of the wetland through immersive films, and is an important place for popular science education.
Reed Maze
The Reed Maze is located in the core wetland area of the scenic area, with a total area of about 1.5 square kilometers. It consists of natural reed marshes and artificial waterways, with a total length of about 6 kilometers of waterways, forming an intricate "maze" route. Tourists can take wooden boats to travel through it, enjoying the natural scenery of swaying reeds and playful waterfowl along the way. There is an observation platform deep in the maze, where you can overlook the spectacular view of the entire reed marsh. Every autumn, the reeds turn golden, making the scenery particularly charming, and it is one of the iconic attractions of the scenic area.
Bird Watching Garden
The Bird Watching Garden covers an area of about 500 mu, built specifically for bird protection and watching, divided into core protection areas, semi-open areas, and viewing areas. More than 100 species of birds inhabit the garden, including rare species such as red-crowned cranes and great bustards. The garden is equipped with 12 hidden bird-watching huts and a 3-kilometer-long bird-watching plank road, with high-power telescopes and other equipment, facilitating tourists to observe bird activities up close without disturbing their habitat. It is a must-visit place for bird lovers.
Lotus Grand View Garden
The Lotus Grand View Garden covers an area of about 1,000 mu, planting more than 30 species of lotus and aquatic plants such as red lotus, white lotus, and water lily. It is a large-scale lotus viewing base in East China. A 3-kilometer-long hydrophilic plank road and 8 lotus-viewing pavilions are built in the garden. When lotus flowers are in full bloom in summer, it forms a landscape of "endless green lotus leaves reaching the sky". The garden also has a lotus popular science area, introducing the growth habits of lotus and its role in the wetland ecosystem, which is both ornamental and educational.
Food
Hongze Lake Hairy Crab
Hongze Lake hairy crab is a characteristic aquatic product around the scenic area. It has delicious meat because it grows in the high-quality water of Hongze Lake Wetland, especially characterized by "green back, white belly, golden claws, and yellow hair". At the "Wetland Fisherman's Joy" restaurant in the scenic area, you can taste dishes such as steamed hairy crabs and crab roe tofu. Autumn (September-November) is the best eating period. Hairy crabs weighing about 200-300 grams each are priced at 80-120 yuan per crab, which is a must-try seasonal food for tourists.
Silver Fish Fried with Eggs
Silver fish is a specialty fish in Hongze Lake Wetland, with a slender body, transparent throughout, and rich in protein. The silver fish fried with eggs in the scenic area's restaurant uses fresh silver fish and native eggs, with a tender taste and light flavor. This dish is about 250 grams per serving, priced at 38 yuan, and is a local classic home-cooked dish, suitable for the elderly and children.
Euryale Ferox Soup
Euryale ferox (commonly known as "chicken head rice") is the fruit of wetland aquatic plants, rich in starch and various vitamins, and is a traditional ingredient in the Hongze Lake area. Euryale ferox soup is made by boiling fresh euryale ferox with lotus seeds, lilies, etc., with a soft and glutinous taste, and has the effect of invigorating the spleen and stomach. It is available in dessert shops in the scenic area, priced at 15 yuan per serving, and is especially refreshing to eat in summer.
Surrounding Food
Sihong County, 10 kilometers away from the scenic area, has more characteristic foods, such as "Sihong pig's head meat", which uses locally raised pork, braised through multiple processes, with tender meat and a strong aroma, priced at 45 yuan per catty; "wheel cake" is a local traditional pastry, made of flour into a thin skin, wrapped with red bean paste or meat filling and fried, priced at 3 yuan each, available at "time-honored pastry shops" in the county town.
Tickets
The ticket price is 65 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "泗洪洪泽湖湿地景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online. As of July 12, 2025, the online ticket purchase function of this official WeChat public account is not working properly.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open all year round, with opening hours from 8:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00). In summer (June-August), it is open until 18:00 (admission stops at 17:30); in winter (December-February), some water projects (such as Reed Maze boat rides) may be suspended due to weather conditions, subject to the scenic area's announcement.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day ecological science route: Arrive at the scenic area at 8:30 am, first visit the Wetland Museum, watch 4D films to learn about the wetland overview, then go to the Bird Watching Garden at about 10:00 am, watch birds along the plank road, and observe migratory birds with binoculars; have lunch at the "Wetland Fisherman's Joy" in the scenic area at 11:30 am, tasting specialties such as silver fish fried with eggs.
Take a boat tour of the Reed Maze at 13:00 pm to experience the fun of traveling through the wetland, then go to the Lotus Grand View Garden at about 14:30 pm, stroll along the hydrophilic plank road to enjoy the lotus; visit the Fishermen's Customs Garden at 16:00 pm to learn about fishermen's culture; end the trip at 17:00 pm. This route combines walking and boat rides, with a total distance of about 8 kilometers, suitable for parent-child families and ecological enthusiasts.
Transportation
- Bus: Take tourist line 1 from Sihong County to "Hongze Lake Wetland Scenic Area" station, with a journey of about 30 minutes, ticket price 5 yuan per person, departing every hour from 8:00 am to 16:00 pm daily.
- Self-driving: Starting from Sihong County, drive southeast along Wetland Avenue for about 25 kilometers to reach the scenic area parking lot, with a driving time of about 40 minutes; starting from Suqian urban area, take Xinyang Expressway to Sihong Avenue, with a total distance of about 90 kilometers, driving time 1.5 hours; the scenic area parking lot charges 5 yuan per day.
- Tourist chartered car: Sihong County Bus Station can book tourist chartered cars to the scenic area. A 7-seat car costs about 150 yuan for a one-way trip, can accommodate 6 people, and needs to be reserved 1 day in advance.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Wetland Museum: 8,000-square-meter exhibition hall, more than 1,000 animal and plant specimens, 4D cinema immersive experience, the core attraction to understand wetland ecology, included in the ticket.
- Reed Maze: 1.5-square-kilometer natural reed marsh, 6-kilometer waterway maze, boat tour allows close contact with wetland ecology, boat ticket 40 yuan per person, best scenery in autumn.
- Bird Watching Garden: 500-mu bird habitat, 12 bird-watching huts, can watch more than 100 species of birds, suitable for photography enthusiasts, free of charge (binocular rental 5 yuan per hour).
- Lotus Grand View Garden: 1,000-mu lotus viewing area, more than 30 species of lotus, in full bloom in summer, unique design of hydrophilic plank road, open for free.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 1 day for the tour. The best tourist seasons are spring (April-May, migratory bird migration period) and summer (June-August, lotus blooming period).
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and carry sun protection products and mosquito repellent (in summer), as there are few shading facilities in some areas of the scenic area.
- Boats for the Reed Maze need to queue in advance. During peak seasons (holidays), it is recommended to take them before 10:00 am or after 14:00 pm to avoid crowds.
- Tourists with children can participate in the scenic area's "Little Wetland Researcher" science popularization activity (need to book in advance on the official website) to experience specimen production for free.
- There are few catering options in the scenic area. You can bring your own dry food to eat in designated rest areas, or go to Sihong County, 10 kilometers away, to taste more food.
Matters Needing Attention
- Picking plants, disturbing birds and other wild animals in the scenic area is prohibited, and violators will be fined.
- Reed Maze boats must abide by safety regulations, wear life jackets, and do not stand or shake on the boat.
- Keep quiet when watching birds, turn off the flash when taking photos to avoid disturbing the birds' habitat.
- Some areas of the wetland are in their original ecological state, and the plank roads are slippery on rainy days. It is recommended to walk carefully or choose to visit on sunny days.
- Signal coverage in the scenic area is limited. It is recommended to download offline maps in advance, keep in touch with companions, and avoid going deep into undeveloped areas alone.