Xixi National Wetland Park is located at the junction of Xihu District and Yuhang District in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is China's first national wetland park integrating urban wetland, agricultural wetland, and cultural wetland, and also a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The total area of the scenic spot is about 11.5 square kilometers, with wetland area accounting for more than 70%, including various wetland types such as rivers, lakes, swamps, and tidal flats. It is rich in ecological resources, with over 700 species of vascular plants and more than 150 species of birds, forming a unique wetland ecosystem.
Xixi Wetland is characterized by the natural landscape of "a winding stream with curling mist". It retains a large number of traditional water town buildings and folk cultural relics, such as ancient bridges, ancient dwellings, and temples, with a total construction area of about 30,000 square meters. As a filming location for movies and TV works such as If You Are the One, Xixi Wetland combines natural wildness with cultural heritage, serving as a model for displaying wetland ecological protection and utilization, receiving over 3 million visitors annually.
Historical Culture
The history of Xixi Wetland can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, with human activities here as early as 4,000-5,000 years ago. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Xixi became a place for literati and scholars to live in seclusion and compose poems. Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Tang Bohu, and others left relevant poems here. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the agricultural and folk cultures of Xixi gradually flourished, forming traditional festivals such as the "Dragon Boat Festival" and "Persimmon Festival".
The religious culture of Xixi Wetland is also quite distinctive. Historically, there were many temples and nunneries, among which Qiuxue An (Autumn Snow Nunnery) is the most famous. Qiuxue An was first built in the early years of Emperor Chunxi of the Song Dynasty and got its name from the inscription "Qiuxue An" by Chen Jiru, a calligrapher and painter of the Ming Dynasty. It was an important place for literati gatherings. The existing building was rebuilt in 2005, retaining the traditional style of Jiangnan Zen temples.
In addition, Xixi Wetland preserves the unique "mulberry-based fishpond" ecological agricultural model. This farming method, which began in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, reflects the wisdom of ancient laborers through a circular system of "planting mulberries on pond ridges, feeding silkworms with mulberry leaves, feeding fish with silkworm excrement, and fertilizing ponds with fish manure". It has been listed as a global important agricultural cultural heritage by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Main Attractions
Yanshui Yuzhuang (Mist and Water Fishing Village)
Yanshui Yuzhuang is located in the southeast of Xixi Wetland and is the core area showcasing the life of Xixi fishermen, covering an area of about 5,000 square meters. The scenic area has exhibition halls such as the Mulberry, Silkworm and Silk Museum and the Xixi Wedding Custom Museum, displaying the traditional lifestyle and folk culture of Xixi fishermen. Visitors can experience fishing, net weaving, and other fishing activities here, and also taste Xixi's specialty aquatic products such as mixed fish and shrimp paste. Surrounded by crisscrossing rivers and reeds, the fishing village is filled with curling smoke in the evening, fully demonstrating the artistic conception of "Yanshui Yuzhuang".
Qiuxue An (Autumn Snow Nunnery)
Qiuxue An is located in the reed marsh northwest of Shentankou in Xixi Wetland and is a landmark cultural attraction of Xixi Wetland. The existing building covers an area of about 800 square meters, consisting of the main hall, meditation hall, abbot's room, etc. It is surrounded by thousands of acres of reeds. Every autumn, the reed flowers bloom like snow, hence the name "Qiuxue An". The nunnery preserves inscriptions and steles by literati of past dynasties, among which the calligraphy stele by Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty is the most precious. Qiuxue An is the best place to watch Xixi's reed flowers and an important place to feel the Zen culture of Xixi.
Shentankou (Deep Pool Mouth)
Shentankou is located in the middle of Xixi Wetland and is the water transportation hub of Xixi Wetland, named for its wide water surface and deep water, with a water area of about 3,000 square meters. It is the venue for Xixi's "Dragon Boat Festival". Every Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boats from surrounding villages race here, with a grand scene that has a history of over 800 years. Both sides of Shentankou are shaded by green trees, and ancient bridges span across, among which "Jianjia Bridge" is the most famous, making it an excellent location for shooting Xixi's water scenery.
Hezhu Street
Hezhu Street is a folk cultural commercial street in Xixi Wetland, about 500 meters long and 4-6 meters wide. On both sides of the street, there are more than 30 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China, with a construction area of about 2,000 square meters. The street gathers Xixi specialty stores, traditional handicraft workshops, characteristic restaurants, etc., such as the "Ding Sheng Cake" from "Xixi Pastry Shop" and traditional pastries from "Jiang Xiangong Temple". In addition, the Hezhu Tower next to the street is about 20 meters high with 5 floors. Climbing the tower, you can overlook the panoramic view of Hezhu Street and the scenery of Xixi Wetland.
Green Dyke
Green Dyke is an east-west ecological corridor in Xixi Wetland, 1,600 meters long and 7 meters wide, connecting the eastern and western areas of Xixi Wetland. Both sides of Green Dyke are planted with a large number of flowers and plants, forming a "four-season flower sea" landscape. There are tulip exhibitions in spring, lotus exhibitions in summer, chrysanthemum exhibitions in autumn, and wintersweet exhibitions in winter, making it the ecological landscape business card of Xixi Wetland. Green Dyke has multiple viewing platforms and rest pavilions, where visitors can walk and enjoy flowers, feeling the natural beauty of the wetland.
Fu Dyke
Fu Dyke is the north-south main axis of Xixi Wetland, 2,300 meters long and 7 meters wide. It is named for connecting multiple scenic spots of Xixi Wetland and implying "blessing the people". Both sides of Fu Dyke are planted with a large number of liquidambar and camphor trees, forming a green corridor. Along the way, there are leisure areas such as Jiangcun Slow Life Block and Xixi Paradise. Visitors can ride or walk on Fu Dyke, enjoy the wetland scenery on both sides, or rest in the cafes and teahouses along the way, experiencing the slow life of Xixi.
Food
Xixi Mixed Fish Pot
Xixi Mixed Fish Pot is a characteristic dish of Xixi Wetland. It uses various freshwater fish produced in Xixi waters, such as crucian carp, snakehead, and catfish, combined with ingredients like tofu and bamboo shoots, and is simmered in a clay pot. The soup is milky white, the meat is tender, and the taste is mellow, fully reflecting the freshness of Xixi's lake delicacies. It can be tasted in restaurants at scenic spots such as Yanshui Yuzhuang and Shentankou, with a mixed fish pot costing about 60-80 yuan, suitable for 2-3 people to share.
Ding Sheng Cake
Ding Sheng Cake is a traditional pastry in Xixi area, named for implying "certain victory" and often used in festivals or happy occasions. Ding Sheng Cake is made of glutinous rice flour and japonica rice flour, with red bean paste or white sugar as filling, steamed. It is pink in color, diamond-shaped, and printed with the characters "Ding Sheng" (certain victory). The Ding Sheng Cake made by "Xixi Pastry Shop" on Hezhu Street is the most famous, with each cake costing about 3 yuan. It has a soft and sweet taste and is a favorite specialty snack of tourists.
Xixi Persimmons
Xixi Persimmons are a specialty fruit of Xixi Wetland, with a planting history of over a thousand years, and the "fire persimmon" variety is the most famous. Fire persimmons are orange-red in color, with delicate flesh and high sweetness, ripening from September to October. Visitors can pick persimmons in the persimmon forests of Xixi Wetland (in designated areas and for a fee of about 20 yuan per person), or buy processed products such as dried persimmons and persimmon jam, with prices ranging from 15-25 yuan per catty. Every October, Xixi Wetland also holds the "Persimmon Festival", featuring persimmon feasts and persimmon DIY activities.
Surrounding Food
Jiangcun Slow Life Block around Xixi Wetland gathers many characteristic restaurants. For example, the "Tea Fragrant Chicken" from "Grandma's Home" uses local native chickens stewed with Longjing tea, with a strong aroma, costing about 58 yuan per serving; the "Earthen Stove Braised Pork" from "Zaofeng Nianjian" is made in a traditional earthen stove, with tender meat that is fatty but not greasy, costing about 48 yuan per serving. In addition, the "Xixi Beer House" in the block offers home-brewed beer and German-style snacks, suitable for gatherings with friends.
Tickets
Ticket price is 80 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "西溪湿地" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 8:30-17:30 (April 1st - October 31st), 8:30-17:00 (November 1st - March 31st of the next year).
The operating hours of the battery boats are the same as the opening hours of the scenic spot, and the last boat departs one hour before closing; the operating hours of the rowing boats are 8:30-16:30, and reservations are required 30 minutes in advance.
The business hours of shops in areas such as Hezhu Street and Fu Dyke are generally 9:00-18:00, and extended to 20:00 in summer (July-August).
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Enter the scenic spot from Zhoujia Village main entrance at 9:00 am, take a battery boat to Yanshui Yuzhuang (about 20 minutes by boat), visit the Mulberry, Silkworm and Silk Museum, and experience fishing activities (1.5 hours); take a boat to Qiuxue An at 10:50 (about 15 minutes by boat), visit Qiuxue An and enjoy the reed marsh (1 hour); take a boat to Shentankou at 12:00 (about 10 minutes by boat), have lunch at a restaurant in Shentankou and taste Xixi Mixed Fish Pot (1 hour); walk to Hezhu Street at 13:30, visit various exhibition halls, and buy specialties such as Ding Sheng Cake (1.5 hours); walk along Fu Dyke to Green Dyke at 15:00 (about 30 minutes), enjoy the four-season flower sea (1 hour); leave the scenic spot from Green Dyke exit at 16:30 to end the trip. This route covers the natural and cultural landscapes of Xixi Wetland, combining leisure and experience, suitable for one-day tourists.
Transportation
- Bus: Multiple bus routes in Hangzhou can reach Xixi Wetland, among which routes K510, 526, and 193 directly reach the main entrance of Zhoujia Village, with a fare of 2 yuan; routes 356, 381, and 382 can reach Jiangcun entrance, with a fare of 2 yuan.
- Subway: Take Hangzhou Metro Line 3 to "Xixi Wetland South Station" or "Dongyue Station", and walk about 15 minutes to the Zhoujia Village entrance of the scenic spot; take Metro Line 19 to "Xixi Wetland Station", and walk about 10 minutes to Jiangcun entrance.
- Self-driving: Starting from the center of Hangzhou, drive west along Tianmushan Road for about 10 kilometers to reach the Zhoujia Village entrance of Xixi Wetland, with a driving time of about 30 minutes; there are parking lots such as Zhoujia Village Parking Lot and Jiangcun Parking Lot in the scenic spot, with about 1,000 parking spaces and a parking fee of 10 yuan per hour.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from the West Lake scenic area to the Zhoujia Village entrance of Xixi Wetland costs about 30 yuan, with a driving time of 20 minutes; taking a taxi from Hangzhou East Station to the scenic spot costs about 60 yuan, with a driving time of 40 minutes.
Must-visit Attractions
- Qiuxue An: Located in the reed marsh, covering an area of 800 square meters, it is the cultural landmark of Xixi Wetland. The scenery is extremely beautiful when the reeds are in full bloom in autumn. The nunnery preserves many inscriptions by literati of past dynasties, combining natural and cultural beauty.
- Shentankou: The water hub of Xixi Wetland, it is the best place to watch the "Dragon Boat Festival". Surrounded by many ancient bridges and with a wide water area, it is the core area for shooting Xixi's water scenery.
- Green Dyke: A 2,300-meter-long ecological corridor with flowers blooming all year round. The tulip exhibition in spring and the lotus exhibition in summer are particularly spectacular, making it a must-visit place to feel the ecological beauty of Xixi Wetland.
- Hezhu Street: A 500-meter-long folk commercial street, retaining more than 30 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, gathering Xixi's characteristic food and handicrafts, allowing visitors to deeply experience Xixi's folk culture.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit in spring and autumn. In spring (March-May), tulips are in full bloom on Green Dyke, and in autumn (September-November), the reed marshes are golden, with the best scenery; in summer, pay attention to heatstroke prevention, and you can bring sun umbrellas and floral water; in winter, it is cold, so it is recommended to wear thick coats.
- The scenic area is large with long walking distances. It is recommended to buy a battery boat combination ticket (ticket + battery boat ticket totaling 140 yuan) to save energy; if you want to experience a leisurely atmosphere, you can rent a rowing boat at 100 yuan per hour, suitable for couples or family trips.
- Visiting during the "Persimmon Festival" (September-October) and "Dragon Boat Festival" allows you to experience unique folk activities, but you need to buy tickets 1-2 days in advance to avoid peak crowds.
- At the "Xixi Pastry Shop" on Hezhu Street, you can watch the production process of Ding Sheng Cake on site and also participate in DIY production, with a per capita cost of about 15 yuan, suitable for families with children.
- Catering prices in the scenic area are relatively high. You can buy some snacks on Hezhu Street to satisfy your hunger, or bring your own drinking water and snacks. The scenic area allows carrying food in non-glass packaging.
Matters Needing Attention
- The ecological environment in the wetland is fragile. Picking plants and catching wild animals such as birds are prohibited, and violators will be fined (50-200 yuan).
- When taking battery boats or rowing boats, follow the crew's instructions, do not stretch your hands and feet out of the boat, and keep your personal belongings safe to prevent them from falling into the water.
- There are many mosquitoes in the reed marsh area. It is recommended to bring mosquito repellent and wear long-sleeved clothes to avoid mosquito bites.
- The roads in the wetland are muddy on rainy days, and some wooden plank roads are slippery. It is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and pay attention to safety when walking.
- The use of drones for aerial photography is prohibited in the scenic area. If you need to take photos, you must apply to the scenic area management office, otherwise, you will be dissuaded.
- The reed marshes are dry in autumn. Carrying open flames into the area is prohibited, and smoking is strictly forbidden. Violators will be dealt with in accordance with fire regulations.