Tahu Lake River National Wetland Park

Tahu Lake River National Wetland Park

Tahu Lake River National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

The park is situated in Mishan City in the southeastern part of Heilongjiang Province, 40 km from downtown Mishan, 50 km from downtown Jixi, 60 km from downtown Qitaihe, and 80 km from the Xingkai Lake scenic area. The planned total area is 3,737 hectares, comprising an ecological conservation zone of 1,824 hectares, a science education and publicity zone of 701 hectares, a rational utilization zone of 1,168 hectares, and a management and service zone of 44 hectares. It is a forested wetland-type park. The park contains a total of 1,177 hectares of various types of wetlands, including 1,070 hectares of river and marsh wetlands and 107 hectares of artificial wetlands, distributed in valley convergence areas. In March 2011, it was approved by the State Forestry Administration as a pilot national wetland park.

The park features a large area of wetlands with well-preserved wetland ecosystems that are highly typical, representative, unique, and diverse. Located at the source of the Tahu Lake River, the park has a typical hilly terrain. Through long-term natural hydrological processes and artificial modifications, it has developed into a composite of multiple wetland types, including rivers, marshes, reservoirs, and rice paddies. These various wetlands interact with, depend on, and influence one another, forming a complex and diverse wetland ecosystem. The abundant water resources provide essential conditions for maintaining ecosystem stability and serve as important foraging and habitat grounds for wetland birds. Relying on the undulating Wandashan Mountain Range, the Tahu Lake River area has complex terrain, numerous ponds, and rich wetland resources. It is covered with lush meadows and marsh plants, forming typical wetland vegetation dominated by carex, littleleaf linden, Carex meyeriana, and Carex lasiocarpa, creating a vibrant and colorful natural landscape.

The park includes a 300-square-meter visitor center, three tourism reception facilities covering 3,000 square meters, five flush toilets, one 15,000-square-meter leisure square, five parking lots totaling 30,000 square meters, multiple rest chairs and pavilions, two landscape bridges, and 450 meters of boardwalks. Additionally, there are 54 kilometers of cement-hardened tourist roads, 10 kilometers of patrol roads, and 8 kilometers of tourist trails. In 2014, it was rated as a 4A-level tourist attraction by the provincial tourism bureau.

The scenic area contains three small reservoirs, where permanent structures such as waterside pavilions, boardwalks, and corridors have been built, along with an ethnic culture garden. There is also a red-crowned crane breeding base, a mandarin duck garden, a peacock garden, and separate breeding bases for red deer and sika deer. An wildlife observation garden, a lake center island, Black Dragon Pool, a pagoda on the mountaintop overlooking the Tahu Lake River, and a lotus viewing garden spanning over a thousand mu are also featured. Bamboo rafts are available for boating on the lotus ponds. Multiple carex-topped wetland landscapes are present, along with forest bathing areas, fishing zones, and fitness and entertainment areas. Currently, the park has a 300-square-meter visitor center, three 3,000-square-meter accommodation buildings that can host 200 guests simultaneously, a large meeting room accommodating 100 people, and a multifunctional restaurant serving 200 diners at once, offering local specialties such as fish banquets, pig-slaughtering feasts, and whole lamb banquets. The park is also equipped with modern sound systems for hosting dances and bonfire parties.