Juxian Shuhe Wetland Park

Juxian Shuhe Wetland Park

Juxian Shuhe Wetland Park is a National AAA-level Tourist Attraction and a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area.

Shuhe Wetland Park is a major highlight of the landscape in the eastern new district of Juxian County and is open to the public free of charge. The park features well-developed infrastructure, rich cultural content, and significant ecological functions, earning widespread praise from visitors. In 2011, it was rated as a “National AAA-level Tourist Attraction” by the National Tourism Administration. In 2012, Shuhe Park successfully passed the assessment and acceptance of the Shandong Provincial Water Conservancy Scenic Area. In 2013, it was awarded the title of “Provincial Wetland Park” by the Shandong Provincial Forestry Department.

I. Park Planning

The landscape planning of Shuhe Park extends from Yangdianzi Bridge on National Highway 206 in the north to Wanghai Avenue in the south, with a total length of 15.3 kilometers and a planned area of 1,180 hectares. This includes 856 hectares of landscape green space and 324 hectares of water area. Guided by the overall goal of “borrowing the beauty of landscapes, embracing the vastness of nature; promoting the culture of Juxian County, and painting the scenery of the Shuhe River,” the park integrates modern urban management concepts. Through a scenario-based landscape model, it creates iconic artistic and urban landscapes, striving to achieve a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, as well as a harmonious win-win between ecological protection and economic development. Based on the characteristics of the land along both sides of the Shuhe River and the overall development plan of the county town, the park adopts a “pearl necklace structure.” From south to north, it arranges 11 major landscape functional areas and 50 landscape nodes, including Urban Oasis, Shuhe Dragging Blue, Ancient and Modern Sunset, Century Flying Rainbow, Cultural Sacred Land, Fields of Humanity, Juren Square, Fitness Paradise, Dance of the Great River, Long Waves Gazing at the Moon, and Vast Water Like One. These form a double helix of landscape space and emotional space. The construction of the park has turned the Shuhe River into a vibrant, lively, and hopeful river—a river of life and a green river—for the city of Juxian.

II. Major Attractions

Chestnut Orchard: During harvest season, this is a great spot for visitors to pick fruits. Here, you can enjoy the fun of picking and taste natural chestnuts. This large-scale chestnut orchard, with its strong green theme, was originally planted by nearby villagers. Considering the integration of nature and humanity, it has been preserved during the park’s construction. The chestnut tree is a specialty of northern China, known as the “King of Hundred Fruits” and hailed abroad as the “Ginseng Fruit.” Chestnuts have significant nourishing effects on the human body, comparable to ginseng and angelica. Tao Hongjing of the Liang Dynasty described their benefits as “benefits qi, strengthens the gastrointestinal tract, and nourishes kidney qi.” To the left is the park’s sports activity area for basketball, badminton, and table tennis, which hosts major competitions in Juxian County.

Apricot Orchard: This area features clusters of peach and apricot orchards preserved in the Shuhe Park and has become a popular spot for citizens to pick fruits during holidays.

Rubber Dam: The dam is 375 meters long and 5 meters high. The river surface has a perennial width of 150 to 500 meters, with a storage capacity of over 4.6 million cubic meters. Together with the second rubber dam, the total water storage is equivalent to that of a medium-sized reservoir. The construction of the rubber dam takes into account both its scenic effect and flood control function, providing an excellent venue for water recreational activities in the park.

Long Waves Gazing at the Moon: A crescent-shaped sculpture built by the Shuhe River, echoing the moon at night. Its shape and the moon are similar, shining silver, with reflections in the water creating a captivating and dreamlike scene.

Urban Oasis: Built by the water, Shuhe Park is a symbol of hope and a mother river for the people of Juxian. The river, together with the surrounding plants, resembles an oasis within the city.

Shuhe Dragging Blue: This name originates from a historical anecdote: the Shuhe River, originating from mountainous areas, flows around the east of Juxian County and meets the Yuan River, which flows in from the central plain of Juxian. Due to the difference in water quality between the two rivers, a section with clear separation of waters appears here, with the water showing a faint blue color, as if dragging a blue jade belt—hence the name “Shuhe Dragging Blue.” It is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Juxian. A poem describes it:

The vast Shuhe flows for miles,

Witnessing rise and fall through the ages.

Sky and clouds reflect on the water,

Sandpipers and ducks roam freely.

Reeds and willows hum by the shore,

Tadpoles write lines on the riverbanks.

Golden waves ripple like a belt,

Strengthening our city upstream.

After the founding of New China, reservoirs were built upstream on both rivers—the Qingfengling and Shiyang reservoirs. Due to changes in the river, this natural landscape is no longer visible, but the beautiful legend of Shuhe Dragging Blue remains forever.

Ancient and Modern Sunset: Located on the west bank of the Shuhe River, it preserves many historical sites such as Zhuangyuan Forest and Leyi Rampart. During planning, the existing terrain was slightly adjusted, and limited development was carried out on the basis of strong preservation. Following the principle of promoting national culture, it forms a thematic scenic area reflecting the profound heritage of Juxian culture.

Century Flying Rainbow: Mainly composed of a scenic corridor about 300 meters long, with a circular water-viewing platform at the end over the water. A dam about 300 meters long blocks the Shuhe River, and the height difference of the dam creates a waterfall resembling a flying swan, which is spectacular. This attraction also forms a visual counterpoint with the Zhuangyuan Forest on the opposite bank.

Cultural Sacred Land: Similar to “Ancient and Modern Sunset,” this site preserves many historical relics of Juxian culture. With slight adjustments to the existing landscape, it plays an important role in inheriting and promoting Juxian culture.

Fields of Humanity: The design concept is a sightseeing agricultural garden themed around tourism, sightseeing, and leisure. As the area originally had large farmland, the design aims to enhance and redefine it. The future park will integrate urban agriculture, sightseeing tourism, leisure vacation, and sports fitness, while also serving as a high-tech agricultural demonstration zone. It is a place where visitors can participate, focusing on intellectual engagement and hands-on experience, highlighting the charm of rural life.

Juren Square: Completed in September 2009, located outside the river dike road and adjacent to Binhe Road, it is a circular square with a radius of 62 meters, covering about 12,000 square meters above ground and 1,868 square meters underground. The square is the central attraction of the second phase of Shuhe Park and the largest leisure square in the park. The ground is paved entirely with granite and features landscaping elements such as flower beds and tree pits, as well as seating for visitors. Beneath the square are distinctive cafes, restaurants, and calligraphy and painting art rooms, reflecting a people-oriented philosophy.

Fitness Paradise: The design follows the principle of “returning green to the people and putting people first.” Within the public green space, various fitness facilities and equipment are installed, creating a comfortable leisure and fitness environment. The functional setup takes into full consideration the needs of different age groups—children, teenagers, adults, and seniors—as well as different social strata, providing residents with an excellent place for leisure, recreation, and fitness.

Dance of the Great River: “Dance of the Great River” is one of the iconic landscapes of the Shuhe River. It primarily uses plant landscaping to showcase the scale of plant communities, reflecting the grandeur of the landscape. It echoes the natural scenery of the Shuhe River, highlighting the emotional theme of the Shuhe as a great and motherly river, forming a thematically resonant landscape.

Near the park, there are teahouses, a pending four-star hotel, and a children's playground, making it a great destination for leisure and entertainment during holidays.