Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park

Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park

Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park is situated in Li County, at the transitional zone between the Wuling Mountains and the Dongting Lake Plain. It is primarily composed of the permanent Chen River watercourse and the reservoir wetlands of Shanmen Reservoir and Wangjiachang Reservoir. The park features a composite lake-river wetland ecosystem made up of natural rivers, reservoirs, riverine islets, floodplain wetlands, marshes, and lakeside forests. With a planned area of 2,776 hectares, including 2,406.7 hectares of wetlands — accounting for 86.63% of the total park area — the wetland types are divided into two major categories: riverine wetlands and artificial wetlands, and four subtypes: permanent rivers, floodplain wetlands, reservoirs, and aquaculture farms. The wetland park stretches from north to south, extending as far north as the downstream end of Shanmen Reservoir and as far south as the dam of Wangjiachang Reservoir. Its geographic coordinates lie between 111°27′28″ to 111°32′33″ east longitude and 29°45′28″ to 29°54′56″ north latitude. The park spans 17.50 km from north to south and 8.16 km from east to west, covering a total area of 2,778.0 hectares. It lies within a monsoon humid climate zone transitioning from mid-subtropical to north subtropical regions, characterized by abundant rainfall, ample sunshine, mild winters, and cool summers. The annual average temperature is 16.0°C, with a maximum of 39.5°C and a minimum of -14.0°C. Annual sunshine duration exceeds 1,700 hours, the frost-free period averages 288 days per year, annual precipitation is about 1,530 mm, and the relative humidity averages 83%. The surrounding areas of the park involve four townships (towns): Wangjiachang, Huolianpo, Zhakou, and Fangshiping, encompassing 21 villages with a population of over 38,000. There is no permanent resident population within the park. These villages include Daxing Village, Shuangqing Village, Pianɡūlǎo Forest Farm, Shengchanjie Neighborhood Committee, Jianshejie Neighborhood Committee, and Huangmu Village in Wangjiachang Town; Jinshan Village and Gutai Village in Huolianpo Town; Yanxi Village, Lüqiao Village, Huayuan Village, Yajiao Village, Shizhuang Village, Xinqiao Village, Yang'er Village, and Gucheng Village in Zhakou Township; and Yangjiawan Village, Liushu Village, Congyang Village, Longshentan Village, and Qiushan Village in Fangshiping Town — totaling 21 administrative villages (neighborhood committees).

The main bodies of Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park are Wangjiachang Reservoir and Shanmen Reservoir. The highest elevation is 120 meters at Shanmen Reservoir, and the lowest is 71 meters at the spillway of Wangjiachang Reservoir Dam. Wangjiachang Reservoir, constructed in 1958, is located 1 km upstream from Wangjiachang Town in Li County along the middle reaches of the Chen River, a tributary of the Lishui River. It is a large (Type II) national reservoir primarily used for flood control and irrigation, with additional functions such as aquaculture and navigation. Completed and filled in 1960, it has a total storage capacity of 278 million cubic meters, a normal storage capacity of 200 million cubic meters, and a catchment area of 484 square kilometers — accounting for 41% of the entire basin. The river section above the dam is 48.5 km long, with a slope of 3.5‰. The reservoir is equipped with a dam-based power station housing three 1,360 kW generating units, yielding an average annual power generation of 9.15 million kWh. Wangjiachang Reservoir’s flood control dispatch system was one of the 16 national pilot projects for large-reservoir flood management initiated by China's National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in 1998. The system went into trial operation on April 1, 1999, and is tasked with irrigating 23,000 hectares of farmland on the Linyang Plain, as well as providing flood protection for 1 million downstream residents and 67,000 hectares of cultivated land. Shanmen Reservoir is situated at Dadangkou in Zhakou Township, Li County, upstream of Wangjiachang Reservoir, and was formed by damming the Jiuhewanxi Stream, a tributary of the Chen River. With two large mountains flanking the dam like a grand gate, it earned the name "Shanmen" (Mountain Gate) Reservoir. Construction began in 1975 and was completed in 1976. It has a normal storage capacity of 92 million cubic meters, controls a catchment area of 35.41 square kilometers, and receives an average annual rainfall of 1,277 mm, supporting irrigation of 3,900 hectares. The reservoir enjoys abundant water resources, with high-quality, unpolluted water that has consistently met Class III water standards for many years, making it a crucial drinking water source for Li County. The park is embraced by rolling hills and boasts picturesque scenery with splashing waters, glistening silver-like waves, and enchanting lake views. Wangjiachang Reservoir, Shanmen Reservoir, and the Chen River serve as the core landscape elements, connecting lakeside forests, rural fields, and villages to create a diverse and complex wetland system. This forms a picturesque riverside scenic belt integrating multiple styles.

The area boasts rich biodiversity. Its flora belongs to 14 geographical distribution types, with a complex composition that distinctly reflects the characteristics of low-hill vegetation around lakes and the transition from mid-subtropical to north-subtropical zones. There are 68 families, 179 genera, and 238 species of wetland plants, including 11 protected plant species. Among them, there are 3 nationally protected Class I key species: Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo), Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood), and Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (Southern Yew); and 8 Class II protected species: Magnolia officinalis subsp. biloba (Obovate-leaved Magnolia), Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor Tree), Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus), Glycine soja (Wild Soybean), Fagopyrum dibotrys (Tartary Buckwheat), Ormosia henryi (Henry's Rosewood), Camptotheca acuminata (Happy Tree), and Zoysia sinica (Chinese Lawngrass).

Within the planned park area, 30 orders, 77 families, and 234 species of wild vertebrates have been identified, representing 25.55% of the total known vertebrate species in Hunan Province. These include 68 fish species (6 orders, 13 families), accounting for 33.17% of Hunan’s known fish; 15 amphibian species (1 order, 6 families), making up 21.74% of the province’s known amphibians; 18 reptile species (3 orders, 7 families), comprising 18.18% of the known reptiles; 119 bird species (16 orders, 43 families), representing 26.56% of the known birds; and 14 mammal species (4 orders, 10 families), accounting for 14.74% of the known mammals. The wetland park is home to 11 nationally protected Class II animal species: Ranarugulosa (Tiger Frog), Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha (Spot-billed Duck), Milvus migrans lineatus (Black-eared Kite), Pandion haliaetus (Osprey), Accipiter nisus nisosimilis (Eurasian Sparrowhawk), Accipiter gularis gularis (Japanese Sparrowhawk), Circus cyaneus cyaneus (Hen Harrier), Falco tinnunculus (Common Kestrel), Falco amurensis (Amur Falcon), Cuculus canorus bakeri (Indian Cuckoo), and Otus sunia malayanus (Oriental Scops Owl). Additionally, 20 species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including 14 in Appendix II and 6 in Appendix III. Eight species appear in the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals, 129 are protected under the National List of Terrestrial Wild Animals Beneficial or of Important Economic and Scientific Value, 40 are included in the China-Japan Migratory Bird Protection Agreement, 11 in the China-Australia Migratory Bird Protection Agreement, 101 are under key local protection in Hunan.

The wetland park harmoniously blends natural landscapes with historical and cultural heritage. Ancient sites such as the millennia-old Chengtoushan Relics, Pengtoushan Relics, and Bashidang Relics, along with early Neolithic cultural remains like Stone Tool Culture, showcase deep historical roots. Recognized as national intangible cultural heritage, Jinghe Opera Culture and Boatmen’s Chant Culture further enrich the park’s profound historical value and cultural significance, adding depth to its ecological tourism offerings.

In accordance with the spirit of the General Office of the State Council’s “Notice on Strengthening Wetland Protection and Management” (State Council Document [2004] No. 50) and the State Forestry Administration’s “Notice on Promoting the Development and Construction of Wetland Parks” (Forestry Conservation Document [2005] No. 118), Li County Party Committee and County People’s Government have taken strategic action. Their goal is to effectively protect the Chen River wetlands, Lishui River wetlands, and their biodiversity, promote the culture of the Chen River wetlands, and meet the growing material, cultural, and tourism needs of Li County residents. To this end, they have decided to establish a national wetland park centered on Wangjiachang Reservoir and Shanmen Reservoir. The vision is to create an ecological masterpiece in the Chen River Basin — where “rivers and lakes form corridors, green mountains stand as screens, landscapes blend seamlessly, and humans live in harmony with water.” This initiative will accelerate the development of Li County’s “Ecological Homeland,” realize the strategic goal of building an “Ecologically Strong County,” and establish Hunan Chenhuai National Wetland Park as a model for conservation within the Lishui water system of the Dongting Lake Basin, as well as a demonstration site for composite lake-reservoir river wetland parks in Hunan. The park aims to integrate functions such as wetland conservation, science education, and eco-tourism, becoming a nationally managed wetland park of high standards.