Dapingtai Wetland Nature Reserve

Dapingtai Wetland Nature Reserve

Dapingtai Wetland Nature Reserve is located in Kust Forest Farm, Hongxing District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, 88 kilometers from the seat of Hongxing District and 160 kilometers from downtown Yichun.

The reserve features vast volcanic rock formations, rocky plateaus, and diverse surrounding ecosystems, providing an ideal habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. It is home to 47 species of nationally protected animals (including first- and second-class), such as red-crowned cranes and moose, as well as 511 plant species, earning it the reputation of “Heilongjiang’s Biodiversity Resource Reserve.” Dapingtai Wetland Nature Reserve is part of the core area of Hongxing Wetland Nature Reserve, which was promoted to a national-level nature reserve in January 2008 and officially named “Hongxing Wetland National Nature Reserve.”

Dapingtai Wetland boasts expansive waters and lush aquatic vegetation, renowned for its thriving natural plant cover. It can be divided into two main tourist areas: Peach Blossom Island and Kurbin Reservoir. Peach Blossom Island in Dapingtai covers approximately 60 hectares and is the best spot to view Rhododendron dauricum. During the blooming season, which lasts over a month in spring, gusts of wind sweep across seas of blossoms that paint the mountains crimson—truly a sight of flowers "blushing down the hills." Kurbin Reservoir spans a total area of 44 square kilometers, featuring a majestic dam with an installed capacity of 4,800 kilowatts, making it an important hydroelectric project. The reservoir area is rich in aquatic resources, offering excellent opportunities for fishing and boating.

Kurbin Reservoir is primarily formed by the convergence of rivers including the Kurbin River, Kelin River, Huoji River, Longwan River, Wulumu River, and Dulu River, with a water storage capacity of 390 million cubic meters. The hydropower station at Kurbin Reservoir releases water above zero degrees Celsius daily for electricity generation, keeping the river ice-free year-round and giving rise to thick mist. Each winter, when this mist meets the cold air, it creates a spectacular, fairytale-like spectacle of rime ice. Starting in mid-November, the forests along the Kurbin River begin to lightly adorn themselves with rime, the pristine white tree cover sparkling brilliantly under the blue sky; after December, the phenomenon intensifies until tapering off around mid-March. For a full 120 days each year, the rime persists for at least six hours daily. The terrain of the Kurbin River basin is complex, encompassing mountains, rivers, plains, valleys, along with forests, grasslands, and shrubs—offering ever-changing scenery that becomes even more magical when cloaked in rime. This fantastical world spans an impressive 27 square kilometers.