Jilin Da'an Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park

Jilin Da'an Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park

Jilin Da'an Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national wetland park.

Da'an Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park is located in the central part of the Songnen Plain in Jilin Province, northeast of Da'an City, at 123°09′ east longitude and 44°57′ north latitude, just 1 kilometer from the city center.

The park was established in 1992 as a unique destination that combines wetland conservation, scientific research, education, and eco-tourism. Since applying for national wetland park (pilot) status in 2009, the Da'an Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have implemented the strategy of “Prospering the city by the river, developing the city by the water,” vigorously carrying out the Nenjiang Bay Wetland Restoration and Conservation Project to build “China’s Northern Wetland Water City.” Adhering to the core principles of “protection first, scientific restoration, rational use, and sustainable development,” the project has invested nearly 244 million yuan to implement various ecological protection initiatives such as dredging, returning farmland to wetlands, vegetation restoration, and the construction of channels, bridges, culverts, and sluices. A series of ecological education activities have also been organized, including scientific monitoring, public outreach, and events like Bird-Loving Week and Wetlands Day. Through scientific conservation efforts, unique wetland vegetation populations such as cattails, reeds, and small-leaf grasses have been restored, and the ecological environment has seen continuous improvement.

Especially after being designated as a national wetland park (pilot) in December 2009, Da'an City focused on improving the wetland ecological science monitoring and public education systems, increasing investment, and enforcing scientific and standardized management. As a result, wetland resources have been effectively protected, wetland species have gradually increased, and the wetland ecosystem has seen comprehensive improvement. In 2013, it was officially awarded the title of Da'an Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park by the State Forestry Administration, and in 2014, it was rated as a 4A-level tourist attraction.

The total area of Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park is 2,441 hectares, of which 1,573 hectares are wetlands, accounting for 64.4% of the total area. It features four typical basic types of wetlands: riverine wetlands, lacustrine wetlands, marsh wetlands, and artificial wetlands (reservoirs and rice paddies), including seven specific wetland types: permanent rivers, permanent freshwater lakes, herbaceous marshes, shrub swamps, forested swamps, reservoirs, and rice fields. The park boasts a rich variety of wetland types, reflecting the diversity, typicality, and integrity of the wetlands in the Songnen Plain, with outstanding ecological functions.

In 2009, based on previous wildlife surveys and field investigations during the planning phase, the city recorded 57 plant families and 169 species within the park, along with 239 species of wildlife, predominantly wetland birds, which account for over 50% of the wetland bird species in Jilin Province. These include 5 families and 18 species of fish, 3 families and 5 species of amphibians, 1 order, 2 families, and 7 species of reptiles, 15 orders, 38 families, and 184 species of birds, and 4 orders, 10 families, and 25 species of mammals. Among them, there are 34 species of nationally protected wildlife; 28 terrestrial wildlife species listed in the National Key Protected Wildlife List; 4 species under first-class national protection—oriental white stork, red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, and hooded crane—and 24 species under second-class protection. All of these species are also listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with an additional 11 bird species listed in Appendix III. The park is also home to over 20 rare animal species of significant economic value, such as forest frogs, pit vipers, yellow weasels, hog badgers, and Manchurian hares.

The wetland park has designated a wetland conservation zone, which is isolated from the outside world and patrolled daily by staff to prevent human interference and preserve the natural habitat of wildlife. After several years of restoration and protection, the diversity of wetland flora and fauna has significantly improved. Firstly, the area is rich in aquatic plants—with vast reed beds and shaded willows, and the long-absent cattails have regrown in clusters. Secondly, the number and variety of bird species have increased, with flocks of pheasants, wild geese, ducks, and cranes commonly seen. In the autumn of 2011, cormorants, absent for 32 years, returned to Nenjiang Bay, with over 1,000 birds staying for as long as 28 days. Thirdly, fish populations have grown. Aside from a small release of the four major freshwater fish species (grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, and black carp), over ten other fish species are naturally bred, yielding an annual catch of more than 400,000 jin (200 metric tons).

Over the years, Da'an City has taken multiple measures and made persistent efforts in wetland conservation and restoration, achieving commendable results.