Tieling Lotus Wetland

Tieling Lotus Wetland

The Lotus Wetland Scenic Area is situated between Tieling’s old and new urban districts. It is a naturally formed temperate floodplain swamp wetland at the confluence of the Liao River, Chai River, and Fan River, known as the "green kidney of the city," where the air contains 9,400 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter. The Lotus Wetland spans a total area of 1,040 hectares and is a multifunctional scenic area that combines landscape, ecological nature conservation, and wastewater treatment.

The Lotus Wetland Scenic Area consists of: the artificial wetland zone (subsurface flow and surface flow), central lake area, West Dyke Peninsula core landscape area, lotus variety display garden, Liaohe Museum, Yilu Lake Children’s Park, as well as the third-phase features including tree islands, flower islands, waterways, rice field hotel, and cracked-ice wetlands. Major attractions include Mandarin Duck Harmony, Seagulls in Flight, Colorful Fish Playing in Water, Reed Sea Exploration, Ten-Mile Lotus Fragrance, Willow Dyke Flower Island, Wetland Mystique, Melody of Lotus in the Bending Garden, Lotus in the Breeze, Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, Charm of the Liao River, Phoenix Crown Glance, and Yilu Boating — over ten scenic spots in total. The wetland features lush cattails and lotuses, birds in flight, fish playing, frogs croaking, and insects chirping, alongside elegant pavilions and misty landscapes, embodying harmony between humanity and nature.

In recent years, to further enhance the tourism quality of the Lotus Wetland Scenic Area, development has followed the standards of a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. Infrastructure has been improved and tourism service quality upgraded. In 2009, the scenic area was awarded two honorary titles: “National Wetland Park” by the State Forestry Administration and “National Urban Wetland Park” by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. In the same year, it was showcased as a representative of China’s urban wetland parks at the Shanghai World Expo. On December 18, 2015, after evaluation by the Liaoning Provincial Tourism Attraction Quality Rating Committee, the Lotus Wetland Scenic Area officially became a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Main Attractions of the Lotus Wetland

Yihe Garden

This is the premium lotus area of the Lotus Wetland. In 2013, the 4th National Lotus Variety Exhibition was held here. Covering an area of 10,000 square meters, it showcases over 550 premium lotus varieties, including local red lotus cultivars and those introduced from the China Lotus Research Center at East Lake in Wuhan. The garden features lotus ponds, pavilions, fountains, teahouses, boat docks, and viewing platforms. Visitors can sit peacefully in the teahouse, gently strum a guqin, and savor a pot of fragrant tea; or stroll leisurely, admiring the red flowers and green willows while drifting with the clouds and breeze.

Mandarin Duck Harmony

“Mist drifts across the autumn lake, while mandarin ducks appear and disappear.” This line from the “Eight Scenic Poems of Tieling,” written by Ming Dynasty Grand Secretary Hua’ge Chen Xun during his exile in Tieling, captures the former splendor of the lotus lake here. The occasional sight of mandarin ducks adds a romantic and ethereal charm to the area. It is also the first garden-style wetland lawn wedding venue in Northeast China, combining aesthetics with functionality. Inspired by the phrase “mandarin ducks perch together, butterflies fly in pairs,” holding a wedding ceremony here — with the bride and groom joining hands under blue skies and white clouds — symbolizes an eternal bond of love.

Seagulls in Flight

This area boasts abundant fish and shrimp, lush aquatic plants, and plentiful food sources, especially tall, dense reeds and cattails that serve as ideal habitats for birds. Hundreds of domesticated geese, mute swans, whooper swans, black swans, and mandarin ducks reside here. In early spring, the area is filled with fresh greenery and the sounds of birdsong.

Colorful Fish Playing in Water

The water sparkles, and koi swim gracefully. A large number of ornamental fish are bred here, primarily koi — the most common ornamental fish found in scenic areas across China. Koi are gentle by nature, enjoy schooling, are easy to raise, adaptable to water temperature, and boast a robust build, vibrant colors, varied patterns, and majestic swimming postures. They are a globally popular ornamental fish, hailed as “living gems of the water.”

Ten-Mile Lotus Fragrance

Walking along the lake, one is greeted by boundless lotus leaves and sunlit blossoms. Under the nourishment of light rain and morning dew, the moment lotus leaves split upward in growth, they emit faint, crisp cracking sounds — sounds that signify growth and the vitality of life. In midsummer, when the lotuses bloom, their fragrance fills the air, intoxicating visitors with their charm. If you listen closely, it seems as if flower buds are stretching their stems and blossoms are unfurling. Occasionally, the playful sounds of birds among the lotus leaves echo — a sign of life’s vibrancy and the strong footsteps of youth. Listening to the lotuses across ten miles is also like listening to the journey of one’s own life.

Willow Dyke Flower Island

Over 200 varieties and more than 3,000 peony plants are cultivated in the “Willow Dyke Flower Island.” Peonies, herbaceous flowers native to China and northern Asia, are ranked among the “Six Famous Flowers of China.” They hold not only high ornamental value but also significant medicinal importance. The name “peony” is derived phonetically from the word meaning “graceful beauty.” Additionally, the area includes a flower garden composed of roses, vinca, orchids, salvia, and various other blooms. At the center are five lotus pools featuring prized water lily varieties such as Taiwan-imported perfume lilies and diamond lotuses.

Melody of Lotus in the Bending Garden

The “Melody of Lotus in the Bending Garden” served as the main exhibition area for the 28th National Lotus Exhibition, spanning over 80,000 square meters. A total of 100-plus organizations from 26 provinces participated. The entrance features a scroll-style screen carved with lotuses and eight cranes, beneath which is a bas-relief depicting a scene of flourishing lotuses in full bloom — a metaphor for peace, prosperity, and the gathering of guests from all directions.

Phoenix Crown Glance

Phoenix Crown Mountain is an artificial hill constructed using earth excavated during the creation of an artificial lake in Tieling’s new urban district. It stands 95 meters tall, and with the addition of a Taishan stone installed atop its main peak, reaches a height of 108 meters. It corresponds with Longshou Mountain in the old urban district, symbolizing the harmonious coexistence and flourishing development of the new and old districts like a dragon and phoenix. The main peak of Phoenix Crown Mountain directly faces the central axis of the new urban plan, and the Taishan stone atop it signifies good fortune and national peace.

Lotus in the Breeze

The “Lotus in the Breeze” area is the main viewing cluster in the wetland scenic zone, consisting of one building, seven terraces, four pavilions, six bridges, and one decorative archway. Here, winding pavilions and bridges connect with pink lotuses and blue waters, reflecting the shimmering lake against the surrounding hills, accompanied by white cranes and colorful clouds — making it an ideal spot for appreciating lotuses and watching birds. When the breeze blows, the sound of rustling lotus leaves fills the air with the fragrance of the blossoms, evoking poetic lines such as “Rising unsoiled from the mud, washed clean yet not vulgar” and “The lotus emerges with meditative calm, its grand leaves greeting the wind in harmony with Buddhist chants,” cleansing the heart and refining one’s character.

Yilu Boating

Yilu Lake Children’s Park is located north of Tianshui River and south of the wetland scenic area, covering 24.2 hectares — including 11.3 hectares of water surface and 8.9 hectares of green space. It serves as an important link in the new urban water system and is an integral part of the Lotus Wetland Scenic Area. The park features two large plazas, as well as various attractions such as small islands on the lake, waterfront platforms, water boardwalks, and docks. With its clear waters, shallow beaches, shaded greenery, wooden boats, boardwalks, small bridges, and waterfront platforms, it presents a picturesque scene of “Jiangnan’s misty rain gracing Tieling.” The water-friendly environment makes it a perfect leisure spot for seniors and children.

Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate

Lotus Lake is abundant in carp. Whenever the sluice gates release water, the carp in the lake swim upstream in large numbers, leaping and splashing in a spectacular display — hence the name “Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.” This phenomenon is also used as a metaphor for turning one’s luck around, achieving success, or passing important exams.

Charm of the Liao River

The Liaoxi River Museum, shaped like a beautiful swan singing joyfully by the lakeside, embodies the importance of environmental protection. It is a natural history museum that centers on the harmony between humans and nature, with rivers as its theme, integrating collection, research, exhibition, and educational outreach. It serves as an important platform for comprehensively introducing the historical civilization, pollution prevention, and the relationship between cities and wetlands in the Liaohe River Basin.