Xisha Mingzhu Lake is located in Lvhua Town, Chongming District, Shanghai. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and the largest natural freshwater lake scenic area in the western part of Chongming Island. The total area of the scenic spot is about 6,500 mu, including 3,000 mu of water area and 3,500 mu of land area, with "natural ecology, wetland sightseeing, and leisure vacation" as its core features. Relying on the unique wetland ecosystem of Chongming Island, the scenic area integrates various landforms such as lakes, swamps, and reed marshes, making it an ideal place for bird watching, sightseeing, and getting close to nature. The park has facilities such as a visitor service center (with a construction area of about 800 square meters), a wetland science museum (with an area of about 500 square meters), and a cruise ship terminal. It receives about 500,000 visitors annually and is an important node of ecological tourism in Chongming.
Historical Culture
The predecessor of Xisha Mingzhu Lake was a natural lake in the western part of Chongming Island. Historically, it was an important water area for local fishermen to fish and breed, and the surrounding wetland ecosystem has existed for hundreds of years. Since the 1980s, with the enhancement of ecological protection awareness in Chongming, the local area has carried out ecological restoration on this area, restricted overfishing and development, and gradually restored the natural style of the lake and surrounding wetlands.
In 2005, Xisha Mingzhu Lake was officially developed and constructed as a scenic area, with an investment of approximately 120 million yuan to improve infrastructure, including the construction of a lakeside trail, bird-watching platforms and other facilities. It was awarded the national 4A-level tourist attraction in 2010. During the development process, the scenic area has always adhered to the principle of "ecological priority", preserving over 90% of the natural vegetation, thus becoming a window to showcase the achievements of wetland ecological protection on Chongming Island. In recent years, the scenic area has held annual events such as the "Wetland Bird-Watching Festival" and "Lotus Culture Festival", integrating ecological protection with popular science education, and inheriting and promoting the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Main Attractions
Mingzhu Lake
Mingzhu Lake is the core water area of the scenic spot, covering an area of 3,000 mu, with an average water depth of 3.5 meters and a maximum depth of 7 meters. It is the largest natural freshwater lake on Chongming Island. There is a natural island in the lake - Bird Island, covering an area of about 50 mu. More than 20 species of waterfowl such as egrets, herons and wild ducks inhabit the island, and visitors can watch them up close by cruise ship. The lake shoreline is about 8 kilometers long, with aquatic plants such as reeds and calamus planted along the coast. In spring, it is full of greenery, and in autumn, the reeds are all over the sky, forming a unique wetland landscape. There are also crucian carp, carp, grass carp and other fish living in the lake, which is a good place for fishing enthusiasts. The scenic spot has a special fishing area with an area of about 200 square meters.
Wetland Plank Road
The wetland plank road is 2.5 kilometers long and 2 meters wide, paved with anti-corrosion wood, winding through the wetland by the lake. There are 5 bird watching platforms and 3 rest pavilions along the way. The plank road goes deep into the hinterland of the reed marsh, where visitors can walk and observe the wetland ecosystem up close. Common animals and plants include reeds, typha, moorhens, hares, etc. Among them, the No. 3 bird watching platform is a two-story structure, 10 meters high, with a wide view. It is the best place to watch the sunrise and the flight of waterfowl. From October to March of the next year, more than 10,000 migratory anatidae birds can be observed.
Xisha Sea Viewing Platform
Xisha Sea Viewing Platform is located in the northwest of the scenic spot, about 1 kilometer away from Mingzhu Lake. It is a 15-meter-high steel structure viewing platform with an area of about 100 square meters. Standing on the platform, you can overlook the estuary of the Yangtze River, with a view of more than 5 kilometers. On a clear day, you can see the outline of Nantong, Jiangsu Province on the other side. Around the viewing platform is a large area of tidal flat wetland. When the tide is low, a large number of crabs and shellfish appear on the exposed mudflats, attracting many waterfowl to forage, forming a spectacular scene of "thousands of birds flying together". The viewing effect is the best especially during the bird migration period in spring and autumn.
Lotus Expo Park
Lotus Expo Park is located on the southeast bank of Mingzhu Lake, covering an area of about 150 mu. It planted more than 30 kinds of lotus and aquatic plants such as West Lake red lotus, space lotus and water lily. The flowering period lasts from June to August. There are wooden plank roads and flower viewing pavilions in the park, where visitors can walk through the lotus ponds and watch the lotus up close. The park also has a lotus science museum, covering an area of about 100 square meters, displaying the varieties, growth habits and cultural significance of lotus. It is a popular scenic spot in summer.
Children's Park
The children's park is located in the northeast of the scenic spot, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters. It is designed specifically for children aged 3-12, with amusement facilities such as swings, slides, climbing nets, and a small sand pool (50 square meters in area). Cherry trees and camphor trees are planted around the park, creating a pleasant environment. There is a parent rest area next to it, providing seats and sunshades, suitable for parent-child families to play.
Food
Mingzhu Lake Fresh Fish Restaurant
Mingzhu Lake Fresh Fish Restaurant is located at the entrance of the scenic spot, with a construction area of 500 square meters, which can accommodate 200 people for dining at the same time. It features fresh fish from the lake and local dishes of Chongming. The signature dishes include Mingzhu Lake fish head soup (68 yuan / serving, using fish heads over 3 jin in the lake for slow stewing), steamed white fish (88 yuan / serving, ingredients from Mingzhu Lake), Chongming cake (20 yuan / serving, traditional hand-made), etc. The restaurant is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can enjoy the lake view while dining. The business hours are 9:00-18:00.
Wetland Barbecue Area
The wetland barbecue area is located on the north bank of Mingzhu Lake, covering an area of about 800 square meters. It has 20 barbecue grills, each of which can accommodate 6-8 people. The rental fee is 100 yuan / 3 hours (including the grill and basic seasonings). Visitors can bring their own ingredients or buy them on site. The prices are as follows: mutton string 5 yuan / string, chicken wing 8 yuan / piece, corn 10 yuan / root, etc. There are shade trees and rest tables and chairs around the barbecue area, suitable for friends or family gatherings. The opening hours are 10:00-17:00 (extended to 19:00 in summer).
Surrounding Food
There are many farmhouses within 3 kilometers around the scenic spot, such as "Lvhua Renjia" farmhouse, which focuses on local Chongming dishes. Among them, white-cut chicken (58 yuan / serving), stir-fried Malantou (20 yuan / serving), and taro braised duck (48 yuan / serving) are very popular among tourists, with an average consumption of about 60 yuan per person. In Lvhua Town, 5 kilometers away from the scenic spot, there are many noodle restaurants and snack bars. Yangchun noodles (10 yuan / bowl) and Chongming cakes (5 yuan / piece) are affordable, suitable for simple dining.
Tickets
It is open for free, but advance reservation is required.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "西沙明珠湖景区" to get the latest news or make an online reservation.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic spot are adjusted with the seasons: from April to October, it is 8:30-17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); from November to March of the next year, it is 9:00-17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). The opening hours on holidays are the same as those in peak seasons, and it is closed on New Year's Eve. The cruise ship operates from 9:00 to 16:30, with a large ship departing every hour on the hour, and small ships departing immediately upon arrival (need to be full or wait for 30 minutes).
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: entrance of the scenic spot → wetland plank road (1.5 hours, walking to No. 3 bird watching platform) → Mingzhu Lake cruise ship (1 hour, touring around Bird Island) → Xisha Sea Viewing Platform (1 hour, overlooking the river view) → Lotus Expo Park (1 hour, recommended in summer) → Children's Park (1 hour, families with children) → Mingzhu Lake Fresh Fish Restaurant (1 hour for dining), with a total of about 6.5 hours. If time is limited (within 3 hours), it is recommended to focus on visiting the wetland plank road and taking a cruise ship to experience the core wetland landscape. The distance between various scenic spots in the scenic area is relatively long. You can choose to take the scenic sightseeing bus (10 yuan / person, unlimited times) or walk, with a total walking distance of about 5 kilometers.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Chongming Bus Nanniu Line to Mingzhu Lake Station, walk about 500 meters to the entrance of the scenic spot. The interval between buses is 30 minutes. It takes about 40 minutes from Chongming South Gate Bus Station.
- Self-driving: Starting from the center of Shanghai, go through Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge, Chenhai Road, and Sanhua Road to the scenic spot. The total distance is about 90 kilometers, and it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The parking lot of the scenic spot covers an area of 5,000 square meters, which can accommodate 300 cars. The charging standard is 10 yuan / time (unlimited time).
- Tourist special line: Every weekend and holiday, there is a tourist special line directly to the scenic spot at People's Square (Wusheng Road Parking Lot). The departure time is 7:30, and the return time is 16:00. The ticket price is 50 yuan / person (round trip). You need to make an appointment through the "Chongming Tourism" public account one day in advance.
- Taxi: Take a taxi from Chongming South Gate Bus Station to the scenic spot. The distance is about 15 kilometers, the cost is about 40 yuan, and it takes 20 minutes.
Must-visit Attractions
- Mingzhu Lake Cruise Ship: 3,000 mu of core water area, 30 yuan / person. It allows close viewing of Bird Island and waterfowl, and experience the wetland water landscape. It is a landmark project of the scenic spot.
- Wetland Plank Road: A 2.5-kilometer-long wooden plank road that goes deep into the reed marsh. You can observe the wetland ecology along the way. It is open for free and is an excellent place for bird watching and photography.
- Xisha Sea Viewing Platform: A 15-meter-high viewing platform that can overlook the estuary of the Yangtze River. It is open for free, especially suitable for visiting at sunrise, with a wide view.
- Lotus Expo Park: 150 mu of lotus planting area. The flowering period is the most beautiful from June to August. The ticket is included in the scenic spot's gate ticket, suitable for flower appreciation and taking photos.
Tour Suggestions
- The best season to visit is from April to May (bird migration period) and from June to August (lotus blooming period), when the climate is pleasant and the landscape is beautiful.
- It is recommended to bring a telescope (for bird watching), sunscreen, and mosquito repellent, as there are many mosquitoes in the wetland area in summer; wear comfortable sports shoes, and some sections of the plank road are narrow, so you need to pay attention to safety when walking.
- It is recommended to take the cruise ship in the morning, when the wind is small, the lake is calm, and the vision is clear; if you want to take photos of bird flocks, you can go to the bird watching platform in the early morning or evening.
- There are few catering options in the scenic spot, and the price is relatively high. You can bring your own dry food and drinking water. The scenic spot has multiple picnic areas with tables and chairs (you need to keep the environment clean).
- There are many tourists on weekends and holidays, especially the cruise ships may need to queue. It is recommended to avoid peak hours and choose to go on weekdays for a better experience.
Matters Needing Attention
- Loud noise and the use of flash photography are prohibited in the wetland plank road and bird watching platform areas to avoid disturbing the birds.
- During the cruise ship's operation, you need to wear a life jacket, and must not stand or lean out of the ship. Children must be accompanied by adults.
- Swimming, fishing (in non-designated areas), and fishing for fish and shrimp in the lake are prohibited. Violators will be fined 200-500 yuan.
- Take good care of the scenic environment. Do not pick flowers and plants or litter. There are garbage classification bins in the scenic spot, and you need to sort and put them in according to regulations.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of the scenic spot. It is recommended to keep in touch with your companions to avoid getting separated.