Huangzhuangwa Natural Scenic Area of Baodi

　　    Huangzhuangwa in Baodi District, Tianjin, together with Erwangzhuangwa, Dazhongzhuangwa, and Liziguwu, is one of the "Four Major Depressions" of Baodi and the largest depression in the area. It is located in the southeastern part of Baodi District, east of the Chaobai New River and west of the Jiyun Canal, covering a total area of approximately 309 square kilometers. With an elevation of only 0.3 to 1 meter and a groundwater level at 1.3 meters, Huangzhuangwa is the lowest-altitude depression in Baodi District on average. According to the ancient text "Commentary on the Water Classic," this area was once part of the ancient Yongnu Marsh and was named after Huangzhuang (a village) within the depression, though the actual center of the depression lies around Huizhuang Village.

　　    Before liberation, the flood channels that flowed through the area frequently experienced severe flooding, resulting in year-round waterlogging with depths of over one meter in many places. Most plots of land were submerged, making it impossible to grow crops. Local farmers lived in hardship, with some forced to leave their homes and flee from famine and floods. A popular local folk rhyme at the time went: “Huangzhuangwa, flooded all around; men shave heads, women beg for food.” This shows just how desolate Huangzhuangwa was in the old society.

　　    After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Party and government placed great emphasis on controlling water disasters, and Baodi—known for its frequent floods nearly every other year—became one of the key areas for water conservancy development. Given that the old Chaobai River was one of the main sources of flooding in Baodi (especially in Huangzhuangwa), in 1950 the government invested in digging the Chaobai New River and dredging the lower reaches of the Chaobai River. In 1960, the construction of the Miyun Reservoir was completed, which completely put an end to the flooding of the Chaobai River. From then on, Huangzhuangwa had a significantly larger area available for crop cultivation, and farmers began to see harvests. However, before the 1980s, due to relatively backward irrigation and drainage facilities, farming methods in the Huangzhuangwa area remained conservative, grain yields were low, and there were large areas of wasteland and low-yield fields, all of which affected agricultural output.

　　    Since 1984, Baodi District has adapted measures to local conditions and transformed Huangzhuangwa by vigorously implementing the "Reclaiming Wasteland for Rice Cultivation" project, breaking the long-standing traditional planting pattern. Starting with introducing and experimenting with rice cultivation, they gradually expanded the area under rice production. After 1989, rice cultivation became regionalized, and rice became the dominant crop, accounting for over 80% of the planted area. Supporting water conservancy facilities were also continuously increased and improved, resulting in a landscape in Huangzhuangwa where rice paddies spread out in grids, crisscrossed by channels in a vast and orderly pattern. In recent years, the rice planting area has reached over 100,000 mu every year. Every early spring, when the rice paddies are flooded, Huangzhuangwa turns into an “artificial wetland,” resembling a water town in the north.

　　    Today, pollution-free rice production has become the mainstream in Huangzhuangwa, with high-quality rice covering over 95% of the planted area. The rice is of superior quality, making Huangzhuangwa one of the major commodity grain production bases in the suburbs of Tianjin. It has truly become a “granary.” Moreover, its beautiful and harmonious pastoral scenery and wetland landscape have attracted numerous migratory birds, turning the area into a famous bird paradise in Tianjin. Every year, tens of thousands of birds pass through or inhabit the area, including many classified as national first- and second-class protected species.

　　    Best visiting season: April to October each year

　　    Opening hours: Open all year round