Chilong Lake National Wetland Park

Chilong Lake National Wetland Park

Chilong Lake National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

In the eastern Hubei region, at the southern foot of the Dabie Mountains and along the Yangtze River, lies a magical land that combines the beauty of mountains, rivers, and lakes with the charm of wetlands and forests. This is Qichun County, named for its abundant wild watercress growing in its sheltered waters. Situated at the crossroads of the Wu and Chu cultures, on the mystical 30th parallel north, Qichun is the hometown of Li Shizhen, the great Ming Dynasty pharmacologist, and is where the timeless "Compendium of Materia Medica" was written. It is China’s only county named after the names of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

Chilong Lake National Wetland Park lies like a beautiful giant dragon resting in the southern part of Qichun. Located at Guanshan in Zhuji Town, it is a large river-connected lake in “the Province of a Thousand Lakes,” sharing a vital connection with the Yangtze River. Covering a total area of 6,667 hectares, it is a composite wetland system consisting of natural lake wetlands, permanent river wetlands, and artificial fishpond wetlands. The park includes five functional zones: wetland conservation area, restoration and reconstruction area, education and exhibition area, management and service area, and rational use area.

Chilong Lake consists of the outer lake, inner lake, and Hengfeng Lake, with a water surface area of 3,533 hectares, making it one of the 19 major lakes in Hubei Province. The lake area features numerous islands and over 280 peninsulas, the highest number of any lake in the province. With its mild climate, abundant rainfall, well-preserved vegetation, dense tree cover, rich biodiversity, and frequent wildlife activity, many seasonal migratory birds make their home here. It serves as an important habitat for wintering birds in the Northeast Asia region. The area is rich in beautiful legends and natural attractions such as Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl, West Corner Lake, Qigui Island, and Yuzhu Island. It has been ranked among Hubei Province’s “Top Ten Most Beautiful Lakes.”

Since its establishment in December 2009 with approval from the State Forestry Administration, Chilong Lake National Wetland Park, under the correct leadership of the Qichun County Party Committee and County Government, and with strong support from forestry authorities at the national, provincial, and municipal levels, has adhered to the core principles of “protection first, scientific restoration, rational utilization, and sustainable development.” With innovation as its soul and protection as its foundation, the park management has improved its organizational structure and institutional mechanisms; strengthened conservation efforts and public outreach; and solidified infrastructure while attracting external investment, significantly advancing all aspects of its work. The wetland park construction has taken initial shape and has become the core and starting area of the Li Shizhen Cultural Tourism Zone — a key project in Hubei Province. It has also been listed among the first group of 23 national wetland parks prioritized for development across the country.