Qinhu Lake National Wetland Park

　　   Qinhu Lake National Wetland Park, approved by the State Forestry Administration as Jiangsu’s first national-level wetland park, was rated as a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction on March 31, 2012. Located in central Jiangsu, between the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, it is the key tourism development area of Taizhou, the hometown of the famous Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang. It has also been included in the "Jiangsu Province Tourism Development Plan for the 10th Five-Year Plan Period and Vision 2020" as a major tourism project in Jiangsu Province.

　　   Covering a total area of 26 square kilometers, the park features lakes, rivers, and other water bodies that account for about 37% of the total area, earning it the nickname “Pearl of the Water Town.” Its azure lakes, crisscrossing river networks, scattered islets, unique wetland ecology, and the folk culture of the Lixia River water town form its distinctive landscape. Through long-term development, the park now includes a water environment scenic area centered around Qinhu Lake, a wetland ecological scenic area branded as the “Hometown of Milu Deer,” an eco-agricultural zone based on the “Global 500 Ecological Model,” a hot spring leisure resort developed from Qinhu’s geothermal resources, and cultural attractions represented by the ancient town of Qinhuang and the Qinhuang Boat Racing Festival.

　　   The park is adjacent to the Ningjingyan Expressway to the east, with an interchange inside the scenic area; to the south is the Nanjing-Qidong Railway station, which offers direct trains to six major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Surrounded by renowned tourist cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Suzhou-Wuxi-Yangzhou, the convenient highways allow visitors to “leave early and return late” to any destination within the province.

　　   Within Qinhu Lake, you can also rent a boat to paddle around while sightseeing.

　　   Embodying the essence of “water, wetlands, and ecology,” Qinhu nurtures a natural landscape of serene lakes, lush forests, rare wildlife, and rich local culture:

　　   1. Qinhu Lake

　　   Also known as Magpie Lake, Qinhu is the largest lake in the wetland park. With nine main rivers flowing into the lake from all directions, it forms the unique spectacle of the “Nine Dragons Paying Homage to the Palace.” The name “Magpie Lake” comes from a beautiful legend. It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, on a Mid-Autumn night, the immortal Zhang Guolao used magic to send Emperor Xuanzong to the Moon Palace. As the emperor, half-asleep, wandered the Guanghan Palace and was about to return, his divine dragon guard suddenly fell ill. The Magpie Fairy brought celestial herbs to heal the dragon. In gratitude, the dragon let out a mighty roar, soared into the sky, and with a flick of its tail, created a vast, shimmering lake—Qinhu. Indeed, magpies are abundant in the Qinhu area, and its pristine ecological environment is home to 97 species of waterfowl, including red-crowned cranes, egrets, and wild ducks.

　　   Qinhu Lake remains calm and mirror-like year-round, with clear, clean waters that produce pollution-free green foods such as fish, shrimp, water chestnuts, and lotus roots. The lake is dotted with islands and lush reeds. By day, sails dot the surface; by night, fishing lights twinkle—creating a delightful scene for visitors.

　　   2. Wetland Park

　　   Qinhu Wetland Park enjoys ample sunlight, mild and moist air, and fresh breezes. The park currently hosts 113 species of main ornamental plants and 73 types of wildlife, including three Class I nationally protected animals: milu deer, red-crowned cranes, and Chinese alligators. There are also avian and crocodile exhibition halls. The annual Qinhuang Boat Racing Festival in Jiangyan, held here, is listed among China’s top ten folk festivals. The thousand-year-old town of Qinhuang, a key highlight of the scenic area, is surrounded by water, with a river running through it, earning it the elegant title “Zhouzhuang of Central Jiangsu.” Its temple is also famed for its myriad camellia trees.

　　   3. Hometown of Milu Deer

　　   According to the book “Investigation of Milu Habitat,” the Qinhu area is the original homeland of the milu deer. This is supported by the fact that the most typical and numerous milu fossils in China have been unearthed here, including the only intact milu fossil specimen in China, preserved at the Taizhou Museum. Due to various reasons, the wild milu population disappeared a thousand years ago, but in the 1980s, these treasured animals, which had been living abroad, returned from the UK to their ancestral home, where they began to thrive once again by the shores of Qinhu Lake.

　　   4. Sanyuan Hot Springs

　　   Developed from geothermal resources, the “Sanyuan Hot Springs” have an outlet water temperature exceeding 42°C. The water is crystal clear and rich in over 30 beneficial elements, including 45.7mg/L of metasilicic acid, 2.05mg/L of strontium, 0.30mg/L of lithium, and more. Tested to meet national mineral water standards, the springs are suitable for both drinking and bathing, offering multiple benefits such as heating, bathing, and healthcare.

　　   5. Eco-Sightseeing Garden

　　   Located on the eastern side of Qinhu Wetland Park, this garden has been rated by the United Nations Environment Programme as one of the “Global 500 Ecological Models.” It features 1.2 million planted trees, 800,000 aquatic plants of 26 species (including lotus, water chestnut, reeds, and wormwood), and 600,000 plants such as cattails, water onions, and irises. Here, you can experience the joy of farming, enjoy farm-style cuisine, stay in rustic cottages, and immerse yourself in the charm of the countryside.

　　   6. Qinhu Waterfowl Garden

　　   Covering an area of about 300 acres, the Qinhu Waterfowl Garden released over 300 rare water birds—including mandarin ducks, demoiselle cranes, and French Muscovy ducks—on April 18, 2009, as part of its opening ceremony. Qinhu Wetland lies along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, a major migratory route for birds, and its abundant sunlight, lush waterside vegetation, and rich aquatic resources make it an ideal winter habitat for migratory waterfowl. Designed with inspiration from London Wetland Centre, the garden has optimized its water systems and terrain to create small water-centric spaces, forming a diverse wetland ecosystem that provides optimal habitats for various bird species. In addition to hundreds of thousands of native waterfowl, nearly 100,000 migratory birds of over 30 species inhabit the garden each year. As the ecological effects of Qinhu Wetland become more pronounced, many migratory birds choose to stay year-round, and their numbers continue to grow. From April to May, the sight of countless birds covering the lake becomes a major attraction. Visitors can observe these rare birds up close via boardwalks. To minimize disturbance to the birds, Qinhu is planning underground and forest observation hides, allowing guests to watch the birds in their natural state.

　　   7. “Qinhuang Boat Racing Festival”

　　   Qinhu has a long history and rich folklore. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Yue Fei’s army fought the Jin forces at Qinhu, and locals began holding memorial ceremonies every Qingming Festival. Over time, this evolved into the annual folk celebration—the China Jiangyan Qinhuang Boat Racing Festival. In 2002, it was listed by the National Tourism Administration as one of China’s top ten folk cultural festivals. Every Qingming, hundreds of boats and tens of thousands of boatmen gather at Qinhu. The shores teem with crowds, cheers echo like tides, and audiences exceed 100,000. On the water, a sea of flags and a forest of poles accompany thousands of boats ready to race, with thunderous drums and music. Among them are tribute boats, flower boats, and “Guai Fu” boats, alongside yangge dances, folk operas, and dragon lantern performances—all competing in splendor and liveliness. The grand, breathtaking competitions and colorful performances have earned it widespread acclaim as “The Greatest Boat Racing Festival Under Heaven.”

　　   National AAAAA-level Scenic Area

　　   On the afternoon of April 27, 2012, the National Tourism Administration officially awarded Qinhu Tourist Area the title of National 5A-level Tourist Attraction in Beijing. This makes it Taizhou’s first 5A-level scenic spot and adds another national honor to the area’s existing titles, including “National Water Conservancy Scenic Area,” “National Wetland Park,” and “National Pilot Zone for Forest Tourism Demonstration.”

　　   Address: No. 1, Qinhu Avenue (County Road 203), Qinhuang Town, Jiangyan District, Taizhou City

　　   Type: Lake Wetland

　　   Rating: AAAAA

　　   Recommended Visit Duration: 3 hours

　　Recommended visiting time: 3 hours

　　Phone: 0523-88623022

　　Official Website: http://www.qinlake.com

　　Social Media Accounts:

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:00-17:30, electric boat service 9:00-17:00

　　Ticket Information:

　　Adult ticket (includes round-trip shuttle boat) 100 RMB; children between 1.2m and 1.5m, Jiangsu Province students, Jiangsu Province seniors aged 60–70, and seniors over 70 from outside Jiangsu Province with valid ID can purchase half-price tickets (includes round-trip shuttle boat); seniors over 70 from Jiangsu Province with valid ID are exempt from the entrance fee but must pay 20 RMB for the boat ride; children under 1.2m are exempt from both entrance and boat fees; students from outside Jiangsu Province receive no discounts. The Ancient Shousheng Temple scenic area ticket is 30 RMB.