Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area

The Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area is a national water conservancy scenic area.

The Weif River, anciently known as the Weishui River, is one of the major rivers in Shandong Province. With a long history and expansive waters, it runs from north to south through Changyi, stretching 78 kilometers in length and covering a drainage area of 300 square kilometers. It is the mother river of the people of Changyi. In the early 21st century, the Changyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, adhering to the philosophy of accelerating the scientific development of water conservancy and creating a harmonious human-water environment in Changyi, expedited the development and construction of the Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area. Through scientific planning, coordinated efforts, and years of dedicated work, an open riverside water conservancy scenic area emerged on the ancient and civilized land of Ziyi. With a total investment of 250 million yuan, it integrates sightseeing tourism, ecological leisure, recreational fitness, and science education. In August 2008, it was designated as a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area by the Ministry of Water Resources of China.

The Weif River, anciently known as the Weishui River, is one of the major rivers in Shandong Province. With a long history and expansive waters, it runs from north to south through Changyi, stretching 78 kilometers in length and covering a drainage area of 300 square kilometers. It is the mother river of the people of Changyi. In the early 21st century, the Changyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, adhering to the philosophy of accelerating the scientific development of water conservancy and creating a harmonious human-water environment in Changyi, expedited the development and construction of the Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area. Through scientific planning, coordinated efforts, and years of dedicated work, an open riverside water conservancy scenic area emerged on the ancient and civilized land of Ziyi. With a total investment of 250 million yuan, it integrates sightseeing tourism, ecological leisure, recreational fitness, and science education. In August 2008, it was designated as a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area by the Ministry of Water Resources of China.

The scenic area embodies the development and construction philosophy of “taking water as the vein, green as the attire, people as the focus, and harmony between humans and water.” It emphasizes preserving the natural landscape and returning to green ecology. Following the eco-water conservancy development concept of “a clear river, a green belt, a scenic line, and a golden embankment,” the city government invested in the development of a water conservancy scenic area featuring key attractions such as “one water body,” “two squares,” “three zones,” and “six gardens.” The area includes major hydraulic structures and water tourism sites such as the Chengdong and Jinkou rubber dams, the new Weif River Bridge, the Weif River Landscape Embankment, and the urban water system, along with attractions for water recreation, forest bathing, garden sightseeing, and fishing by the water. These elements form an ecological landscape belt stretching 5.5 kilometers from the Jinkou River Barrage to the Chengdong Rubber Dam, covering a total area of 5.4 square kilometers, including 2.4 square kilometers of water area and 3.0 square kilometers of wetlands and gardens. The entire scenic area fully reflects the integrated development philosophy of combining hydraulic engineering with garden design, and harmonizing natural and cultural landscapes, creating an open riverside space that integrates sightseeing tourism, ecological leisure, recreational fitness, and science education. Along both sides of Shunhe Road, the area is planted with green trees such as golden locust, weeping willow, large-leaved privet, Chinese white poplar, cherry blossoms, as well as rare seedlings and floral vegetation, forming a landscape of vast water surfaces, open spaces, large green areas, and expansive gardens. At the same time, using the Weif River as the water source, two scenic water systems spanning 8 kilometers were constructed — one traversing the urban area and the other crossing the Green Expo Park — achieving a beautiful scene of “spring across the city, greenery throughout the parks, and shimmering waters of the Weif.” This has greatly improved the ecological environment of Changyi and added a stunning attraction to the city. In recent years, further investments have been made to develop the Weif River Ecological Landscape Belt’s garden area. In accordance with biodiversity requirements, six distinctive mini-scenic zones along both banks of the Weif River and its surrounding areas have been planted and named. Within these zones, various transportation, leisure, and recreational facilities have been built, including vehicle roads, bluestone-paved paths, boardwalks, parking lots, plazas, bird-watching pavilions, and the Weif River Style Wetland Park. The agricultural sightseeing zone highlights agricultural and forestry features, with plantings of spring plum blossoms, summer lotuses, autumn pears, winter jujubes, and rare ornamental seedlings, ensuring “flowers in spring, shade in summer, fruit in autumn, and greenery in winter” — a scene of perpetual verdancy. Visitors can experience the vitality of nature while also enjoying the joy of harvesting abundant fruits. The wetland conservation area is planted with a variety of aquatic plants and green vegetation, contiguous with vast reed beds, forming a scenic line of lush greenery and rippling blue waters. Seagulls gather in flocks, golden fish swim beneath the surface, and waterfowl roam freely — creating an ecological wonder where “the Weif River blends with the boundless sky, and sunset clouds fly alongside seabirds.” The water activity zone focuses on boat sightseeing, fishing by the water, and cultural experiences. Visitors can gaze into the distance, reflect on the past and present, recall the ancient battlefield of the Chu-Han contention during the Han Dynasty along the Weif River, and remember the famous works of the liberation-era writer Jun Qing, such as *By the Dawn River* and *The Story of Old Water Buffalo Grandpa*, thus cultivating revolutionary sentiment and commemorating heroic deeds. They can also take in the picturesque scenery of Wenshan, witness the rapid economic development along the river, and appreciate the rewarding outcomes of reform and opening up. Since 2008, 35 million yuan has been invested in constructing the Chengdong Landscape Embankment project along the Weif River. A new embankment was built along the 2,235-meter stretch from the old Weif River Bridge to Wujiaman east of Wenshan, featuring a 17-meter-wide embankment road with hardened pavement, slope protection, and landscaping. This expansion has further developed the scenic area, rapidly boosted economic growth along the river, and enhanced the city’s charm and quality. To ensure the Weif River Water Conservancy Scenic Area fulfills its functional benefits, water authorities have established robust mechanisms, prepared contingency plans, assigned personnel, and strengthened management. Comprehensive, multi-dimensional oversight has been implemented over hydraulic projects, garden landscaping, and scenic safety, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the water conservancy scenic area. This contributes significantly to building a harmonious human-water environment in Changyi and developing water conservancy tourism resources.