Hunan Dong'an Zishui National Wetland Park

Hunan Dong'an Zishui National Wetland Park

Hunan Dong'an Zishui National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Hunan Dong'an Zishui National Wetland Park is situated in the central part of Dong'an County, Hunan Province. The park primarily covers the Zishui River and Gaoyan Reservoir, including the artificial wetlands along both sides of the Zishui River, riverine floodplains, and parts of the mountainous areas surrounding Gaoyan Reservoir. It is a "reservoir-river" composite-type wetland park. The geographical coordinates range from 111°06′04″ to 111°23′45″ east longitude and 26°19′01″ to 26°28′55″ north latitude, with a total area of 1,096.0 hectares, of which 695.0 hectares are wetlands, accounting for a wetland coverage rate of 63.41%.

The park boasts remarkable biodiversity. It features numerous bays, shoals, islets, trees, birds, and rare species. To date, a total of 195 families, 676 genera, and 1,100 species of vascular plants have been identified. Among them, there are 8 species of plants under national key protection, including the Primulina tabacum, a plant listed as a critically endangered population by the National Forestry Administration and protected at the national first level, which is widely distributed across multiple sites within the park with relatively abundant resources, making it highly valuable for conservation. A total of 192 species of wild vertebrates have been recorded, belonging to 28 orders, 74 families. These include 15 species under national second-level protection, 21 species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and 9 species included in the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals.

The park features exceptionally beautiful natural landscapes. With picturesque scenery, crystal-clear waters that reveal the riverbed, and stretches of large and ancient trees, the landscape is enhanced by the reflection of green mountains and trees on the water surface, resembling a soft, transparent green silk ribbon winding through the mountains and waters. The Zishui River is one of the most pristine and scenic rivers in southern China.

The park has a profound cultural heritage. It is home to over 20 national and provincial-level key cultural heritage sites, including the Guangli Bridge and Wu Gong Pagoda, as well as historical and cultural relics of Han and Yu cultures, all of which hold significant historical and cultural value.

The park holds extremely important ecological significance. Zishui Wetland Park serves as a crucial ecological corridor between Hunan and Guangxi, functions as the central axis for regional politics, economy, and culture, and is also a vital source of high-quality drinking water for both urban and rural residents. Its ecological importance is paramount. It plays a critical role in safeguarding the wetland ecological security of the Xiang River basin and even the Dongting Lake basin, maintaining regional ecological balance, ensuring the safety of drinking water for residents, and promoting the sustainable social and economic development of the region.