Hulin Crescent Moon Lake Nature Reserve

Hulin Crescent Moon Lake Nature Reserve

Located northeast of Hulin City, 18 kilometers from Hutou Town, Crescent Moon Lake earned its name due to its crescent-like shape. In 1986, the provincial government approved the establishment of a grassland-type nature reserve dominated by littleleaf linden, covering an area of 5,133 hectares. In September 1987, it was officially recognized as a “grassland-type nature reserve.” The reserve spans 77,000 mu, including about 5,000 mu of lake surface. At the northeastern tip of the lake lies a gentle stream that connects directly to the Ussuri River. The Crescent Moon Lake Nature Reserve is home to pristine ecological species, including 50 types of trees, 70 types of shrubs, and 413 varieties of grasses. It provides habitat for over 40 rare animal species such as the han da an deer, roe deer, black bears, Ussuri raccoon dogs, voles, snow-white rabbits, red-crowned cranes, swans, egrets, and mandarin ducks. Bird Island on the Ussuri River is just 3,200 meters from the tourist area, with the closest point being only about 1,000 meters away. The lake is also renowned for its abundant crucian carp, as well as carp, catfish, and pike.

The reserve is situated on the northern edge of the Muling River-Xingkai Lake Plain, at an elevation of about 50 meters, characterized by low-lying terrain with alternating grasslands, marshes, and lakes. It features various types of grasslands, including meadow-type, marsh-meadow-type, and marsh-type grasslands, growing plants such as littleleaf linden, narrow-leaved beet, sedge, and spiraea salicifolia. It is a typical representative area of littleleaf linden grasslands and their ecosystems in Heilongjiang Province. The reserve contains over 400 hectares of water surfaces connected to the Ussuri River, with water levels fluctuating according to the river's rise and fall. Among them, the largest lake—

Crescent Pool—covers an area of 300 hectares and is a vast lotus pond growing dozens of aquatic plants such as lotuses, water lilies, and water chestnuts. Around late July and early August, the lake surface is covered with lotus leaves and flowers, creating a spectacular high-latitude lotus colony. In 1987, a wild lotus nature reserve was established. The Crescent Moon Lake Nature Reserve is also home to precious wildlife such as sika deer, swans, and mandarin ducks, which thrive and breed here.

The central lake area, resembling a full moon embraced by Crescent Moon Lake, covers over 30,000 mu and is a strictly closed-off section of the reserve. Its vegetation consists of island-like layered forests and grasses such as littleleaf linden and carex, arranged in radial layers that create a rhythmic and magnificent landscape. The lotuses of Crescent Moon Lake are considered a unique marvel beyond the Great Wall. Lotus flowers occupy about a quarter of the lake surface, spanning nearly a thousand mu. In midsummer, the blooming lotuses in full splendor present a vibrant and diverse display, bringing boundless vitality to the lake. It has been poetically described: “The pride of the northland, Hulin’s lotus; the beauty of the frontier is a world apart. The fragrance of the wind-blown lotus drifts a thousand miles, not quite Jiangnan, yet surpassing Jiangnan.” These verses celebrate Hulin’s lotus and the charm of Hulin. Along the outer edge of Crescent Moon Lake, 6,000 mu of land have been developed as a tourist area. The tourist zone includes newly built attractions such as the Moon-Embracing Pavilion, holiday cabins, a central lake wooden bridge, a lotus-viewing pavilion, a boat dock, and fishing platforms.

The Crescent Moon Lake Grassland-Type Nature Reserve is part of the Sanjiang Plain, featuring terrain characteristic of a riverside alluvial plain. It lies north of the Muling River and east of the Ussuri River, dotted with numerous lakes and marshes, covering a total area of 77,000 mu. The reserve boasts rich flora and fauna resources, with thousands of birds inhabiting Bird Island. Commonly seen bird species include red-crowned cranes, mandarin ducks, swans, egrets, white-tailed sea eagles, and black storks. In summer, the area features scattered islands and beaches, shimmering water surfaces, and hundreds of birds gathering over the grasslands and waters, forming a beautiful, serene, and peaceful ecological painting gifted by nature. The Crescent Moon Lake Grassland-Type Reserve includes a swampy lake shaped like a crescent, hence its name. It spans approximately 5,000 mu, with 1,400 mu of water surface covered in wild lotuses. Every July and August, stretching as far as the eye can see, the fragrant lotus fields bloom along the winding waters, their large green leaves dotted with elegant blossoms in countless charming forms—an extraordinary sight in the north, thus also known as Lotus Lake. Approved as a provincial-level nature reserve by the provincial forestry department in 1986, the area has seen the construction of fishing platforms, leisure pavilions, lotus-viewing corridors, pavilions, and more than a dozen uniquely styled vacation villas since 1998, making it a popular tourist destination for enjoying lotuses, birdwatching, fishing, and leisure.

Address: Northeast of Hulin City, Jixi

Type: Lake

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour