Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park

Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park

Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Zhalute Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park is situated within the Yangshugou Forest Farm in the northwest of Bayanwulan Sumu, Zhalute Banner, Xing’an League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is 126 km east of Yinder, 80 km north of Zhalantun City, and 163 km west of Arxan. The park lies between 121°25′34″E to 121°45′14″E and 47°01′07″N to 47°11′52″N, approximately 2.5 km from the Wendegen Water Control Hub of the Yinzhaoji Liao Water Diversion Project. The southern boundary reaches the Zhalute Yangshugou State-owned Forest Farm, the northern edge extends to the Haoraoshan area of the Bai’maogou Forest Farm under the Chaihe Forestry Bureau of Hulunbuir City, the western limit is at the Wugeliqi Management Station of the Yangshugou Forest Farm in Zhalute Banner, and the eastern edge borders the E’ertu State-owned Forest Farm in Zhalute Banner. The total area of the park is 4,660.59 hectares, stretching 20.1 km from north to south and 24.6 km from east to west. Wetland areas cover 2,775.45 hectares, accounting for 59.6% of the total park area.

The main water body of the park, the Chuo’er River, is the first tributary of the Nenjiang River. It flows through Zhalute Banner for 205 km with an average annual runoff of 2.01 billion cubic meters, forming vast marshes and riverine wetlands along its banks. The Tuoxin River, a first-order right-bank tributary of the Chuo’er River, originates from the southern slopes of the Greater Khingan Range in Haosengou. Flowing due east, it serves as the boundary river between Zhalantun City and Xing’an League. The Tuoxin River basin covers 628.4 hectares over a length of 97.57 km. Within the wetland park, the combined length of the Chuo’er and Tuoxin Rivers spans 54.3 km—33 km for the Chuo’er River and 21.3 km for the Tuoxin River. The park preserves well the original state of its ecosystem, with wetland vegetation largely in its natural condition. It ranks among the areas with the best water quality in the Nenjiang River basin, and its composite forest-wetland ecosystem is highly unique in China.

Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park features a composite ecosystem of wetlands and forests, boasting exceptional biodiversity. Due to its distinctive ecological type and vegetation, it serves both as a crucial ecological barrier in northern China and one of the country’s important plant gene banks. The park hosts 264 species of native plants, including two Class II nationally protected species: the Dune Willow and the Amur Corktree. The Chuo’er River valley contains large tracts of century-old natural mixed forests of elm and willow, which are extremely rare. Eighty-nine bird species have been recorded, among which the Golden Eagle is a Class I nationally protected animal, while 15 species—including the Mandarin Duck, Whooper Swan, Tundra Swan, Northern Goshawk, and Common Crane—are Class II protected animals. The park is home to 35 fish species, such as the Lampetra reissneri, a cyclostome unique to the Chuo’er River and listed in the China Red Data Book of Fishes as endangered. The upper Chuo’er River basin serves as a breeding ground for this species. The Scaleless Fish, another Class II protected animal, is a rare and precious cold-water salmonid native to China.

The park’s image is defined as: “Emerald waters and lush mountains along the Chuo’er River, harmonious and beautiful Zhalute.” Guided by the planning philosophy of “protection, restoration, and education,” and based on the conservation of wetlands in the Chuo’er River basin and the fundamental protection of water ecology and environment in the Nenjiang River basin, the park aims to become a model for the conservation and sustainable use of wetland and forest ecosystems in Inner Mongolia. It showcases the long-standing grassland civilization of the Chuo’er River and presents a pastoral idyll of harmony between humans and nature.

The beautiful Chuo’er River boasts crystal-clear waters and picturesque scenery, with weeping willows and lush aquatic plants lining its banks. As the river meanders through the park, it forms various landscapes. Two particularly scenic spots include one at Heibulaga, resembling a pristine hada (prayer scarf), breathtakingly beautiful, and another at A’Mende’gei, akin to a natural jade bracelet. The Tuoxin River, delicate and graceful like a demure maiden, is lively, elegant, serene, and vibrant.

In early spring, the Dune Willows sprout, painting the riverbanks fiery red, while azaleas quietly bloom, turning the mountains into a riot of colors. In midsummer, green grass and trees stretch as far as the eye can see, mirroring the blue sky and still waters, with hundreds of birds flying and flowers blooming, and herds of cattle and sheep grazing. In autumn, the waters turn tranquil and the mountains pale, blanketed with golden leaves and caressed by refreshing breezes, offering a uniquely charming experience. In the harsh winter, the landscape is frozen and snow-blanketed, draped in silvery white, presenting an exceptionally enchanting sight.

The wetland park is dotted with marshes and riverbanks, crisscrossed by rivers and streams of varying sizes. During spring and autumn, it becomes a gathering place for migratory birds. Numerous species, including Mallards, Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Reed Herons, Whooper Swans, and Mandarin Ducks, migrate here to breed, making it a paradise for birds. Naturally formed volcanic rhyolite stone forests and rock paintings offer unique geological landscapes that captivate visitors. The Jin Dynasty Great Wall ruins traverse the park, allowing you to marvel at the grandeur of this ancient military defense project and journey back in time to appreciate its magnificence.

The development of the wetland park will highlight its educational and awareness-raising functions, fostering ecological consciousness for wetland conservation and homeland protection. It will also provide leisure and vacation opportunities, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the pristine beauty of green waters and lush mountains while enjoying the natural oxygen bar of the wetlands. The park will showcase ethnic cultural characteristics, featuring the customs, traditions, and culinary delights of the Mongolian people. Additionally, it will emphasize nature appreciation and wetland focus, establishing a platform for wetland ecological displays and preserving the essence of its thematic culture. Chuo’ertuoxin River Wetland is your destination to connect with nature.

Located at the junction of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang Province, and Jilin Province, the wetland park serves as the most convenient transportation hub on the golden tourism corridor from the three northeastern provinces to “Arxan–Hailar–Manzhouli.” The area boasts abundant tourism resources and profound cultural heritage, encompassing not only natural landscapes such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, rare birds, and landforms but also unique cultural elements including Mongolian Yuan culture, Liao-Jin culture, and ice-snow culture. In the future, the wetland park can share resources and complement strengths with nearby attractions such as the Arxan Scenic Area, Chaihe Moon Town, and Tumuj National Nature Reserve, achieving coordinated development of the regional eco-tourism industry.

Serene and beautiful wetlands, their charm lies in nature—the most exquisite Chuo’ertuoxin River.

Pure and pristine landscapes, their beauty in vastness—the most intoxicating homeland, Zhalute.

(Zhalute Chuo’ertuoxin River National Wetland Park Administration, Inner Mongolia)