Huainan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve

Huainan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve

The Huainan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve in Huaibin was established in December 2001 with the approval of the People's Government of Henan Province. It is a wetland ecological nature reserve, covering a total area of 3,400 hectares, including a core zone of 2,000 hectares and an experimental zone of 400 hectares.

The Huainan Wetland Nature Reserve is situated in the southeastern part of Henan Province, in the middle and upper reaches of the Huai River. Its geographical coordinates are 32°15′–32°38′ north latitude and 115°10′–115°35′ east longitude. It lies in the transitional zone between the northern subtropical and warm temperate climate regions, boasting abundant light and heat resources, distinct seasons, and plentiful precipitation. The annual average temperature is 15.3°C, the frost-free period averages 224 days per year, the annual precipitation is 936.8 mm, the annual sunshine duration is 2,124.4 hours, the sunshine rate is 48%, and the average annual wind speed is 3.1 meters per second.

Located in the upper reaches of the Huai River, the area sits at the transition zone between China's second and third topographical steps, as well as the boundary between the warm temperate and northern subtropical zones in China's physical geography. It is highly representative. The terrain slopes from west to east and gradually descends from north to south, generally classified into three types: uplands, plains, and depressions. Uplands are mainly distributed south of the Huai River, with ground elevations ranging from 32.5 to 52 meters; plains belong to the Huang-Huai Plain region, primarily distributed north of the Huai River, with ground elevations between 33 and 42 meters and slopes generally ranging from 1:3,000 to 1:5,000; depressions are mainly found along the Huai River and Wulong Port, with ground elevations between 25 and 33.5 meters, characterized by low and flat terrain.

The transitional climate and abundant water and heat resources endow the area with rich plant resources. The vegetation is diverse, with a wide variety of plant species. Trees, shrubs, and grasses intermingle and penetrate one another, and the wetland vegetation types are also diverse. There are a total of 7 vegetation type groups, 12 formations, and 200 plant communities. The area is dominated by subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests, along with some warm temperate vegetation species. According to surveys, there are over 80 families and more than 1,000 species of wetland plants in the area, including more than 30 families, 120 genera, and over 200 species of wetland vascular plants. There are 12 types of woody wetland vegetation, 11 types of herbaceous wetland vegetation, and 22 types of aquatic vegetation, such as foxtail algae communities, black algae communities, pondweed communities, moss algae communities, water chestnut communities, wild arrowhead communities, reed communities, water caltrop communities, and monochoria vaginalis communities.

The reserve lies along the Qinhuai line. Its unique geographical location and abundant natural resources make it a “kingdom of animals.” The area boasts rich bird resources, with 128 species accounting for 43% of the total bird species in the province. Among them, three species—the Oriental white stork, golden eagle, and great bustard—are under national first-class protection; 95 species, including the Lady Amherst’s pheasant, blue-winged pitta, Eurasian spoonbill, and grass owl, are under national second-class or provincial key protection. There are 13 species of mammals and 19 species of amphibians and reptiles, such as the otter and large Indian civet, which are under national key protection. Over 700 species of insects have been identified through specimen identification, with many more yet to be discovered, indicating extremely rich biological resources.

Since its establishment, the Huainan Wetland Nature Reserve in Huaibin has strengthened resource protection, conducted baseline resource surveys of the nature reserve, carried out scientific experiments, and fully leveraged the ecological, social, and economic benefits of the reserve. It has become an ideal base for the protection and research of biodiversity, community succession, ecosystem structure, function, and ecological benefits.

Qisi Town: Qisi Town is the hometown of Sun Shuao, a famous prime minister of the Chu State during the Warring States period. More than 3,000 years ago, it was the capital of the Jiang State of the Western Zhou Dynasty and the birthplace of the Jiang family ancestors. With a long history and culture, historical relics can be found everywhere in the town, which has been designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Henan Province.

Qisi Town is located 15 kilometers southeast of Huaibin County, at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains and on the southern bank of the Huai River. The terrain is undulating, with numerous ditches, ponds, and lakes scattered throughout the area, earning it the reputation of a “land of fish and rice.” Qisi Town administers 16 administrative villages and 166 villager groups... More detailed information about Qisi Town++