Kunshan Huqiao Wetland Park

Kunshan Huqiao Wetland Park

Kunshan Huqiao Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

I. Geographic Location

Tianfu National Wetland Park is situated in the northern part of Kunshan’s Huaqiao Economic Development Zone. Its geographic coordinates span from 121°05′22.32″E to 121°07′44.08″E and from 31°19′18.28″N to 31°21′13.53″N. It lies to the north of Heping Village in Jiading District, Shanghai, adjoins Zhoujing Village in Jiading District, Shanghai, to the east, faces the Shanghai–Nanjing Railway to the south, and borders the Dawapu River to the west. The total area is approximately 8 square kilometers.

Geographic Location

II. Habitat Types

Tianfu National Wetland Park is located within the Taihu Lake Basin’s Wusong River water system, featuring a dense network of rivers and a rich variety of wetland types. These include small artificial lakes restored as wetlands, riverine wetlands with the distinctive charm of the Jiangnan water towns, wild marsh wetlands, and artificial wetlands composed of permanent rice paddies and fish ponds. The entire area falls within the southern part of the northern subtropical monsoon climate zone, characterized by mild and moist weather, distinct seasons, abundant sunlight, plentiful rainfall, and a long frost-free period. The region boasts crisscrossing farmland and a dense river network, with rich water and wetland resources and a sound ecological environment, conducive to the growth and reproduction of flora and fauna. This has resulted in a diverse and abundant range of plant and animal species.

Habitat Types

III. Origin of the Name

The name "Tianfu" (Heavenly Blessing) has a long history. Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, Lady Wu, the mother of Sun Quan, expressed gratitude for the blessings of heaven by naming 18 temples built there as "Tianfu An" (Heavenly Blessing Nunnery), bringing peace and prosperity to the people. Residents from nearby villages flocked to pray and trade, leading to the establishment of Tianfu Village, which had taken initial shape by the Yuan and Ming dynasties. During the Republican era, when the railway between Nanjing and Shanghai was constructed, a Tianfu An Railway Station was specially built. With the development of high-speed rail, Tianfu Village is now uninhabited. To reflect the wetland characteristics of the area and preserve the historical and cultural legacy of Tianfu, the wetland park was named Tianfu Wetland Park.