Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park is located in the northwest of Kangzhuang Town, Yanqing District, Beijing. It is a national wetland park and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It is also the largest wetland nature reserve and artificial wetland park in Beijing with the richest biodiversity. Its total area is 6,873 hectares, and the wetland area is 3,939 hectares, accounting for 57.3% of the total area. The scenic area focuses on the wetland ecosystem and integrates multiple functions such as wetland protection, popular science education, and ecological sightseeing. It is rich in animal and plant resources and serves as an important stopover and breeding ground for many migratory birds, attracting a large number of birdwatchers and tourists every year. The scenic area has facilities such as a visitor service center, a science popularization museum, and bird-watching platforms. Among them, the science popularization museum covers an area of about 1,000 square meters, displaying wetland ecological knowledge to tourists through rich exhibits and interactive devices.
History and Culture
Historically, the Wild Duck Lake area was a flood plain of the Yongding River. Due to its unique geographical location and hydrological conditions, a natural wetland was gradually formed. In ancient times, it was one of the places for royal hunting, and there are some legends and relics related to royal activities around it. With the changes of the times, the wetland once faced the risk of degradation. To protect this important ecosystem, Wild Duck Lake Wetland Nature Reserve was established in 2002 and approved as a national wetland park in 2005. After years of ecological restoration and protection, the current Wild Duck Lake has regained its vitality and become a model of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Main Attractions
Wetland Museum
The Wetland Museum is an important popular science venue in Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park, with a construction area of about 1,500 square meters. Through physical specimens, multimedia demonstrations, simulated scenes and other methods, the museum systematically displays the formation, evolution, ecological functions of wetlands and the animal and plant resources of Wild Duck Lake wetland. Here, tourists can gain an in-depth understanding of the close relationship between wetlands and human life and enhance their awareness of ecological protection.
Bird-Watching Platforms
There are 5 bird-watching platforms in the scenic area, distributed in different regions, with heights ranging from 5 meters to 15 meters. The bird-watching platforms are designed in a concealed way, making it convenient for tourists to observe birds' activities without disturbing them. During the spring and autumn migration seasons, hundreds of species of birds such as swans, wild ducks, and cranes can be observed here, making it a perfect place for birdwatchers.
Lake Circuit Trail
The Lake Circuit Trail is about 10 kilometers long, built along the edge of the wetland. The scenery along the trail is beautiful, and tourists can walk along it to enjoy the natural scenery of the wetland up close. Various wetland plants such as reeds and cattails are planted on both sides of the trail, presenting different landscapes in different seasons. It is full of greenery in spring and the reeds are flying in autumn, which is very charming.
Wild Duck Island
Wild Duck Island is a small island in the lake with an area of about 1 hectare, where a large number of wild ducks inhabit. Tourists can approach the island by boat to watch wild ducks playing in the water and resting on the island. There is also a special feeding area on the island, where tourists can feed wild ducks under the guidance of staff and experience the fun of interacting with birds.
Delicacies
Yanqing Tofu Feast
Yanqing Tofu Feast is a very distinctive local cuisine. It uses tofu as the main ingredient, matched with various side dishes and seasonings, to make more than a dozen or even dozens of dishes. Most of the farmyards around Wild Duck Lake can provide this delicacy. The main dish "Three-Color Tofu" is made of white tofu, green tofu (added with vegetable juice), and yellow tofu (added with eggs), which is tender in taste and rich in nutrition. A table of tofu feast can usually serve 8-10 people, with a price ranging from 300 to 500 yuan.
Roast Whole Lamb
Restaurants around will select locally raised goats, which are specially marinated and roasted, with golden and crispy skin and tender and juicy meat. A whole roasted lamb usually weighs 10-15 catties, suitable for sharing among many people. The price varies according to the size of the lamb, generally ranging from 800 to 1200 yuan.
Fried Wild Duck (Artificially Bred)
Some restaurants around the scenic area offer fried wild duck. The wild ducks used are artificially bred, with firm meat and delicious taste. They are usually sold whole or half. The price of half a fried wild duck is about 80-120 yuan, which is eaten with seasonings such as salt and pepper, with a unique flavor.
Tickets
The ticket price is 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "北京野鸭湖湿地公园" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. From April 1st to October 31st every year, the opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); from November 1st to March 31st of the next year, the opening hours are 9:00-16:30 (admission stops at 16:00). The scenic area is open as usual on legal holidays. In case of special weather or other special circumstances, the opening hours may be adjusted temporarily. It is recommended that tourists check the official notice of the scenic area before traveling.
Tour Routes
Ecological Science Popularization Tour Route
Starting from the visitor service center, first visit the Wetland Museum to learn about wetland ecological knowledge, which takes about 1 hour; then go to the nearby bird-watching platform to observe bird activities, which takes about 1.5 hours; then walk along the Lake Circuit Trail to enjoy the wetland scenery along the way, with a total distance of about 3 kilometers, taking 1.5 hours; finally reach Wild Duck Island to watch wild ducks and end the trip, with a total duration of about 4-5 hours.
Leisure Sightseeing Tour Route
After entering from the scenic area entrance, take a sightseeing bus (20 yuan per person for a one-way trip) to directly reach Wild Duck Island, watch wild ducks and participate in feeding activities, which takes about 1 hour; then take the sightseeing bus to another bird-watching platform, stay for a while to observe birds, which takes about 1 hour; then walk to a section of the Lake Circuit Trail (about 2 kilometers) to enjoy the scenery, which takes 1 hour; finally return to the scenic area entrance, with a total duration of about 3-4 hours.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Metro Line 2 in downtown Beijing to Jishuitan Station, then take Bus 919 (Yanqing direction) at Jishuitan North Bridge Bus Station, get off at Yanqing Nancaiyuan Bus Station, and transfer to Bus Y46 to directly reach Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park. The whole journey takes about 2.5-3 hours.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive north along Beijing-Tibet Expressway (G6), exit at Yanqing Urban Area Exit, then follow the road signs to the northwest of Kangzhuang Town to reach Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park. The whole journey is about 100 kilometers, taking about 1.5-2 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is 10 yuan per car per day.
- Tourist special line: During the peak tourist season (April-October), Beijing Tourist Distribution Center will open a tourist special line to Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park, departing from Tiananmen Square at 8:00 am every day and returning from the scenic area at 16:00 pm. The round-trip ticket price is 80 yuan per person, and reservations are required 1 day in advance.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Bird-Watching Platforms: They are the best places to watch birds. Hundreds of species of birds can be observed during the migration season, including national first-class protected animals such as great bustards and black storks. The height and location of the bird-watching platforms are reasonably designed, allowing tourists to clearly observe the activities of birds.
- Wetland Museum: The museum has rich exhibition contents and popularizes wetland knowledge through various forms. It is an important window to understand the wetland ecosystem, especially suitable for families with children.
- Lake Circuit Trail: With a total length of about 10 kilometers, there are various wetland landscapes along the way, allowing visitors to feel the natural beauty of the wetland up close. In spring, you can enjoy various flowers in full bloom, and in autumn, you can see the reeds flying all over the sky.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are spring and autumn. In spring (April-May), birds begin to migrate back, and wetland plants gradually recover; in autumn (September-October), it is the peak period of bird migration, and the scenery is also very beautiful. These two seasons have suitable temperatures, which are suitable for outdoor activities.
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes when traveling, because there is a lot of walking in the scenic area, especially the road surface of some parts of the Lake Circuit Trail may be uneven.
- Prepare a telescope to better observe birds at the bird-watching platform. There is also a telescope rental service in the scenic area, with a rental fee of 20 yuan per hour.
- Bring an appropriate amount of drinking water and snacks. There are relatively few catering facilities in the scenic area, and the prices are relatively high.
- It is recommended to spend 3-6 hours for the tour, and you can choose a suitable travel route according to your own interests and physical strength.
Notes
- Feeding birds at will is prohibited in the scenic area. If you need to feed, you must do so in the designated area and follow the guidance of the staff to avoid affecting the health and natural habits of the birds.
- Take good care of the environment, do not litter, do not pick wetland plants, and protect the integrity of the wetland ecosystem.
- Keep quiet when watching birds, do not make loud noises, and avoid scaring the birds.
- Take sun protection measures when traveling in summer, such as applying sunscreen and wearing a hat; keep warm in winter, as the wind in the scenic area is strong and the temperature is low.
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area, do not enter unopened areas, and ensure your own safety.
- Self-driving tourists must park their vehicles in the designated parking lot and do not park randomly to avoid affecting traffic.