Leishui National Wetland Park

Leishui National Wetland Park

Leishui National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Leishui National Wetland Park encompasses the main channel of the Leishui River and its surrounding buffer zones, stretching from the south at the Cai Lun Bamboo Sea Tourist Scenic Area to the north at the border between Leiyang City and Hengnan County along the Leishui River. The planned total area is 3,597 hectares. Leishui National Wetland Park features typical ecosystems, diverse wetland species, rich cultural landscapes, and notable scientific research value. Currently, the park is being developed and constructed in phases according to the principles of “prioritizing protection, moderate restoration, science-led planning, and rational utilization,” aiming to become a high-quality water source area, waterfowl habitat, tourist destination, and science education base. The core protected area of the wetland park—Tongzi Mountain in Dazhong Village and Dahebian Village, Yongji Town, Leiyang—is known as a “bird paradise.” It is home to over a hundred species and more than 100,000 birds, primarily herons such as egrets and pond herons. When they fly, their graceful movements are a delight to watch; when they roost, they form a starry spectacle—a truly magnificent scene.

Hunan Leishui National Wetland Park was approved for establishment by the State Forestry Administration on March 25, 2011. The park covers a total area of 3,589 hectares, mainly including the Leishui River and its surrounding areas. It stretches in a narrow corridor shape from south to north, extending from the northern boundary of the Cai Lun Provincial Forest Park in Huangshi Town in the south to the border between Leiyang City and Hengnan County along the Leishui River in the north. The wetland park extends approximately 45 kilometers vertically from north to south and about 11 kilometers horizontally from east to west. Hunan Leishui National Wetland Park boasts abundant and diverse wetland resources. The total wetland area is 3,242.5 hectares, accounting for 90.1% of the park’s total land area. Among this, riverine wetlands cover 2,934.7 hectares, making up 90.5% of the total wetland area and 81.5% of the total land area; marsh wetlands cover 30.9 hectares, accounting for 1.0% of the wetland area and 0.9% of the land area; and artificial wetlands cover 276.9 hectares, representing 8.5% of the wetland area and 7.7% of the land area.

Leishui National Wetland Park is rich in biodiversity, with a total of 877 plant species from 503 genera and 139 families, as well as 191 animal species from 71 families, 26 orders, and 5 classes. Among these, there are four nationally second-class protected wild plant species (camphor tree, wild soybean, golden buckwheat, and Chinese zoyzia), and three orchid species protected under international trade conventions (spring orchid, spotted lady’s slipper, and spiral orchid). There are also 13 nationally second-class protected wild animal species (tiger frog, black-eared kite, chestnut-bellied hawk eagle, Eurasian sparrowhawk, Japanese sparrowhawk, common buzzard, merlin, Amur falcon, common kestrel, grass owl, Oriental scops owl, collared scops owl, and small Indian civet). Additionally, 124 animal species are listed in the National Catalogue of Terrestrial Wild Animals Under State Protection, Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Research Value. Leishui National Wetland Park also boasts a rich cultural heritage, including farming culture, Cai Lun’s papermaking culture, and Dragon Boat Festival traditions. The park offers captivating scenery, combining natural landscapes with cultural attractions. Key sites include the Tongzi Mountain Migratory Bird Paradise, Cai Lun Memorial Park, Farming Culture Museum, and Du Fu Park. With its abundant biodiversity and beautiful scenery, Leishui National Wetland Park serves as a haven for wildlife and birds, as well as an ideal leisure and tourism destination for visitors.

Address: Along the Leishui River from Yongji Town to Huangshi Town