Dinghu Bay Scenic Area

Dinghu Bay Scenic Area

Dinghu Bay Scenic Area is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

A national 2A-level scenic spot and a national Yellow River wetland nature reserve. Located in Wendong Village, Xiyuan Township, Lingbao City, Sanmenxia, Henan Province—2 kilometers west of the Lingxi exit on the Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway, or directly at Wendong Village stop on National Highway 310. Approximately 70 kilometers from Sanmenxia City. It is a wetland-type natural scenic tourism area dominated by water and reed marshes, and is known as the “First Reed Marsh of the Yellow River” and the “West Baiyangdian.”

The scenic area covers an area of approximately 6.5 square kilometers and boasts vast reed marshes—a rare Yellow River wetland landscape in northern China—spanning tens of thousands of acres. The lake is densely covered with reeds and lotus plants, with crisscrossing waterways that naturally form an aquatic maze. The area features abundant underground springs, teeming underwater life with fish and shrimp, and wild birds that inhabit the grass year-round. The vegetation here has a transitional characteristic, with species from three regions intermingling between north and south. The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once wrote, “The waters of Dinghu flow clear and serene.” The Ming Dynasty poet Peng Gang penned the verse, “Mist-shrouded trees of Dinghu reach the lone city.” Also, the Tang Dynasty poet Yao He composed the poem “Inscription on the Riverside Pavilion”: “The pavilion stands by the river so fair, / Fish dart and waterfowl call out in the air. / When will the winding stream come to its end? / Today the thousand peaks appear fresh again. / Morning light stretches farther in autumn’s hue, / Summer heat feels lighter as seasons renew. / In my cup the wall’s shadow seems to sway, / In my lute the waves’ sounds seem to play. / The sandy bank and steps lie quiet and still, / The fishing lights shine bright through window and sill. / Here one may easily lose oneself in delight, / So uplifted the spirit sleeps not at night.” The area is rich in plant resources, with over 160 species and varieties of vascular plants across 80 families, and is abundant in produces such as apples, jujubes, peanuts, cotton, and lotus roots. There are more than 140 species of wildlife across 36 families, among which the whooper swan, white-crowned crane, blackfish, Chinese mitten crab, and grey heron are of conservation value. There are over 16 scenic spots, including the Viewing Pavilion, Dinghu Slide, Lotus Pond, Boat Dock, Fishermen’s Community, Dinghu Fishing Village, Fishing Pier, Wolong Pool, Siye Spring, Yellow River Sunset, Cliff Swallows in Spring, and Ostrich Farm.

Ten-Thousand-Acre Reed Marsh: Covering approximately 5.7 square kilometers, it is the largest reed marsh in the Yellow River basin. The reeds begin to turn green in April, with peak lushness from May to October. The reeds grow to about 3–4 meters tall and start to wither in December. Among them grow Malan plants, whose stems turn a brownish-red color and can be used as filling for health pillows.

Lotus Pond: There are two lotus ponds. The lotuses are predominantly white, along with yellow, red, and green varieties. Every summer, the pond bursts with blooming lotuses and lush lotus leaves. The area produces over 50 tons of lotus roots annually and is a nationally renowned producer of nine-hole lotus.

Dinghu Bay Lake Surface: Spanning approximately 6.4 square kilometers, it is home to migratory and rare birds such as mute swans, red-crowned cranes, grey cranes, mandarin ducks, wild geese, white-crowned cranes, wild ducks, and more. Visitors can enjoy the natural sight of “cormorants standing still in the water, and egrets flying in formation overhead.”

Address: 300 meters north of Lingbao West Station on the Zhengzhou–Xi’an High-Speed Railway, Xiyuan Township, Lingbao City, Sanmenxia, Henan

Ticket Price:

20 RMB per person

Opening Hours:

07:00-21:00