Hulin Crescent Lake Nature Reserve

　　Located in the northeast of Hulin City, 18 kilometers from Hutou Town, Crescent Lake is named for its crescent moon-like shape. In 1986, the provincial government approved the establishment of a grassland-type nature reserve dominated by *Filifolium sibiricum*, covering an area of 5,133 hectares. In September 1987, it was officially designated as a "grassland-type nature reserve" by the state. The reserve spans 77,000 mu, including about 5,000 mu of lake surface. At the northeastern tip of the lake, a gentle stream connects it to the Ussuri River. The Crescent Lake Nature Reserve is home to pristine ecological species, including 50 tree species, 70 shrub genera, and 413 types of grasses. It also provides habitat for over 40 rare animal species such as the Siberian roe deer, roe deer, black bear, Ussuri raccoon dog, flying squirrel, snow-white rabbit, red-crowned crane, swan, heron, and mandarin duck. The bird island on the Ussuri River is just 3,200 meters from the tourist area, with the closest point only about 1,000 meters away. The lake is famous for its abundant crucian carp, as well as carp, catfish, and pike.

　　The reserve is situated on the northern edge of the Muling River–Xingkai Lake Plain, at an elevation of around 50 meters, characterized by low-lying terrain with alternating grasslands, marshes, and lakes. It features various grassland types, including meadow-type grasslands, marshy meadows, and marsh-type grasslands, growing plants such as *Filifolium sibiricum*, narrow-leaved beet, Carex lasiocarpa, and Spiraea salicifolia. It is a typical representative area of *Filifolium sibiricum* grasslands and their ecosystems in Heilongjiang Province. The reserve has over 400 hectares of water surface, connected to the Ussuri River, with water levels fluctuating according to the river’s rise and fall. The largest lake within the reserve—

　　Crescent Pool—covers 300 hectares and is a vast lotus pond, home to dozens of aquatic plant species such as lotus, water lily, and water caltrop. From late July to early August, the lake surface is covered with lotus leaves and flowers, creating a spectacular high-latitude lotus community. In 1987, a wild lotus nature reserve was established here. The Crescent Lake Nature Reserve also provides habitat for precious wildlife such as sika deer, swans, and mandarin ducks.

　　The central lake area, resembling a full moon embraced by Crescent Lake, covers over 30,000 mu and is a strictly enclosed zone of the reserve. The vegetation here consists of island-like layered forests and grasses such as *Filifolium sibiricum* and sedge, arranged in radial layers that create a rhythmic and spectacular landscape. The lotus flowers of Crescent Lake are considered a unique wonder beyond the Great Wall. Lotus flowers occupy about a quarter of the lake surface, spanning nearly 1,000 mu. In midsummer, the blooming lotuses in full splendor bring boundless vitality and energy to the lake. As one poet wrote: "The pride of the north, Hulin’s lotus; a unique beauty beyond the frontier. The fragrance of lotus carried by the wind reaches miles away, surpassing the charm of the south." This verse praises the Hulin lotus and the region itself. Six thousand mu of land along the outer edge of Crescent Lake has been developed as a tourist area, featuring newly built attractions such as the Moon-Embracing Pavilion, holiday cabins, a lakeside wooden bridge, a lotus-viewing pavilion, a boat dock, and fishing platforms.

　　The Crescent Lake Grassland-Type Nature Reserve is part of the Sanjiang Plain, with a terrain characterized by alluvial plains along the river. It lies north of the Muling River and east of the Ussuri River, dotted with numerous lakes and marshes, covering a total area of 77,000 mu. The reserve boasts rich flora and fauna, with thousands of birds inhabiting the bird island, including common species such as red-crowned cranes, mandarin ducks, swans, herons, white-tailed sea eagles, and black cranes. In summer, the area is adorned with scattered islands and sandy beaches, shimmering water surfaces, and hundreds of birds gathering on the grasslands and waters, forming a beautiful, serene, and harmonious ecological painting gifted by nature. The Crescent Lake Grassland-Type Reserve features a crescent-shaped marshy lake, hence its name, covering approximately 5,000 mu. Of this, 1,400 mu of water surface is covered with wild lotuses. From July to August, visitors can admire vast stretches of lotus ponds along the curved water, with large clusters of emerald-green leaves dotted by elegant and dignified lotus flowers in various forms—a spectacular sight in the north, earning it the nickname "Lotus Lake." Approved by the provincial forestry department in 1986, it became a provincial-level nature reserve. Starting in 1998, facilities such as fishing platforms, leisure pavilions, lotus-viewing corridors, and fragrant pavilions were built along the lake, along with over a dozen uniquely styled leisure villas, making it a popular destination for tourists to admire lotuses and birds, fish, and relax.

　　Address: Northeast of Hulin City, Jixi

　　Type: Lake

　　Recommended visiting time: 1 hour