Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve

Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve

The Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

The Heilongjiang Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve is situated in the northwest of Zhaoyuan County, Heilongjiang Province, within the central part of the Songnen Plain, covering an area that includes 11 townships. To the east, it neighbors Laizhou Town of Zhaodong City, Heilongjiang Province; to the south, it faces Jilin Province’s Fuyu County, Songyuan City, and Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County across the Songhua River; to the west, it faces Jilin Province’s Da’an County and Zhenlai County across the Nen River; to the north, it lies adjacent to the administrative regions of Zhaoyuan County and Tai Kang County. The total area of the reserve is 57,870 hectares. Its geographical coordinates are between 124°15′25″–125°47′45″ east longitude and 45°20′27″–45°34′37″ north latitude. The administrative area falls within Zhaoyuan County, Heilongjiang Province.

The Heilongjiang Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve represents one of the most typical and representative wetland and aquatic ecosystems in the temperate plain region of Northeast China. The natural geographical conditions of the reserve define the characteristics of its wetland landscape. Located in the central Songnen Plain with a general terrain sloping from northwest to southeast, the area mainly consists of alluvial floodplains. The landform is relatively flat, with undulating river terraces. Elevations range between 122 and 130 meters. Along the rivers, river valley floodplains and sand dunes are widespread.

The Heilongjiang Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve features various types of wetlands, including rivers, lakes, marshes, meadows, and more. This natural landscape, where rivers, lakes, marshes, meadows, and sand dunes interweave in layered complexity, along with its diverse habitat patches, fully reflects the typical nature of the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve.

River Wetlands: There are over ten rivers of varying sizes within the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve. The total area of river wetlands is 7,862 hectares, accounting for 18.94% of the reserve’s wetland area and 13.58% of the total area of the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve. Major rivers include the First Songhua River, the Nen River, the Second Songhua River, and their tributaries. Among them, the First Songhua River covers an area of 4,536 hectares within the reserve, while the Nen River covers 3,326 hectares.

Lake Wetlands: The Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve contains nearly 100 lakes and ponds, primarily distributed along the Nen River and the First Songhua River. Major lakes and ponds include Xinxing Lake, Maoxing Lake, Nanpaozi, Lidian Pao, Dapian Pao, Lianhua Pao, Heiyu Pao, and Baiyu Pao. The total area of these water bodies is 5,254 hectares, making up 12.65% of the reserve’s wetland area and 9.08% of the total area of the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve.

Floodplain Wetlands: These are mainly distributed in the valleys, low-lying depressions, small basins, and transitional zones on both sides of the wider river valleys within the reserve. They are widely distributed throughout the reserve, covering a total area of 14,556 hectares. This accounts for 35.06% of the reserve’s wetland area and 25.15% of the total area of the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve.

Herbaceous Marsh Wetlands: This type of marsh is widespread throughout the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve and constitutes the main body of the wetland system. With an area of 13,848 hectares, it makes up 33.35% of the reserve’s wetland area and 23.93% of the total area of the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve. These marshes are extensively distributed in low-lying areas along rivers, as well as around lakes and ponds.

The Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve primarily aims to protect the riverside wetland ecosystem, natural landscape resources, and the rare and endangered wildlife inhabiting the area. It serves as a comprehensive nature reserve integrating functions such as biodiversity conservation, scientific research, public education, eco-tourism, and sustainable wetland use. It is an important base for the study and protection of rare and endangered wildlife species such as the red-crowned crane, white-naped crane, and oriental white stork, and is also a region rich in biodiversity. According to surveys and literature, the reserve hosts 422 plant species from 69 families, including 4 species from 3 families of mosses, 5 species from 3 families of ferns, and 413 species from 63 families of angiosperms. The wetlands—rivers, lakes, meadows, and marshes—are home to a large number of moisture-loving plants, including hydrophytes, hygrophytes, and some mesophytes, some of which are relict species from the Tertiary period. Nationally protected plants include wild soybean. The reserve is home to 45 fish species from 9 families under 6 orders, accounting for 42.86% of the total fish species (105) in Heilongjiang Province. Due to the cold and dry climate typical of Heilongjiang as a northern, frigid region, the diversity of amphibians and reptiles is relatively low. The reserve has 6 amphibian species from 4 families, representing 50.0% of Heilongjiang’s amphibian species (12), and 6 reptile species from 4 families, making up 37.5% of the province’s 16 reptile species.

A total of 228 bird species from 45 families under 16 orders have been recorded in the Zhaoyuan Riverside Wetland Nature Reserve, accounting for 66.47% of Heilongjiang Province’s total bird species (343). Marshland birds make up the majority, with significant proportions of grassland and farmland birds as well. There are 5 nationally Class I protected bird species, including the oriental white stork, golden eagle, Siberian crane, red-crowned crane, and great bustard. There are also 31 Class II protected bird species, 26 provincially key protected bird species, 151 provincially generally protected bird species, 139 species under the China-Japan Migratory Bird Protection Agreement, and 37 species under the China-Australia Migratory Bird Protection Agreement.

The reserve is home to 21 mammal species from 9 families under 5 orders, accounting for 24.14% of Heilongjiang Province’s total mammal species (87). There are no nationally protected mammals, but 3 species are under provincial key protection, and 21 species are under general provincial protection.