Xixi National Wetland Park - China's First National Wetland Park

Three Causeways

Fu Causeway (福堤)：Fu Causeway (Fu literally means “good fortune” in Chinese) stretches 2300 meter from south to north. Being an ecological and cultural causeway, it connects the main attractions together and links with 6 Fu Bridges.

Green Causeway (绿堤): Just as the name suggests, Green Causeway is located in a sea of green plants. Here you can have a look at Xixi Wetland Plants Garden which enjoys strange aquatic grasses and wild flowers. It is an important site for some experts to research.

Longevity Causeway (寿堤): Longevity Causeway is the longest causeway of the three with length of 3600 meters. Standing in this causeway offers you a good view of densely crisscrossed watercourses and century-old wooden wharf.

Hazy Fisher Village

With dense weeping willow, mist-shrouded water and smoke from the chimney constituting a charming hazy picture, this small village got its poetic name of Hazy Fisher Village. Walking along the road on the bank, you can smell a slight fragrance given off by some unknown plants. Visiting one of the riverside teahouses is suggested, relax yourself and have a good sight of this quiet place over a cup of tea. In this village, you could have a deep exploration of Hangzhou Silk, farming, fishing, local wedding and folk custom because there are special exhibition halls for you. Restaurants are available there.

Anchorage Thatching

Boarding on the wooden wharf and walking through a path in the bamboo forest, a small hut on a straw hat comes into your eyes. This hut is Anchorage Thatching which was the residence of Zhou Xiaozhi, a hermit in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. He concentrated on reading without any appetite to seek fame or official ranks. He and his two brothers live in a simple life and enjoy reading and farming. In that time, this hut was hidden in the thick reeds. Looking from above, the thatching looks like an island floating on the water.

Xixi Plum Villa

Xixi Plum Villa is a group of traditional farmhouses situated in the southwest part of Xixi National Wetland Park and near Autumn Snow Thatching. Plum blossom of Xixi has been well-known from ancient times. In South Song Dynaty, many literati always came here and had fun. A small wooden house in the manor has tea, coffee and other drinks for sale.

Xixi Thatched Cottage

Xixi Thatched Cottage is a small but exquisite yard. The ground is scattered with green grass and surrounded by bamboo fence. The white wall is shaded by the verdant bamboo. A peaceful picture made by old well, stone seat, grape trellis and swallows unfolds in front of you. The former owner of this cottage is a famous litterateur called Feng Mengzhen (冯梦真).

Watching Dragon Boating Event

In the Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese Lunar 5th May), nearby villagers will gather in Xixi National Wetland Park and join a great event. It is said that Emperor Qianlong once watched the performance and dragon boating in Xixi Wetland Park and praised “What a Grand Event”. As a result, Hangzhou people last this event for more than 500 years. Traditional opera, Kungfu Show, dragon dancing and lion dancing will take place in the ancient stage of the park. Most highlight of that day is the dragon boating competition. Hundreds of villagers will take part in the competition and hundreds of the boats shuttling back and forth.

Appreciating Flowers in Xixi Flower Fair Festival

Xixi Flower Fair Festival is a big day in Xixi National Wetland Park. It occurs in Chinese lunar 15th February. According to the legendary, Flower Faery will come down to earth in that day and color the flowers and decorate the charming Hangzhou. In order to share the beauty of flowers, Flower Fair Festival is held in every year. With the theme of “love, happiness, beauty and charm”, a lot of activities will be launched. While you are savoring a mass of flowers in different color and different shapes, you can also have a good time with your family and friends.

Cruise Tour: It is suggested you start your wetland tour from Zhoujia Wharf. Taking an electric boat or sculling boat to Xixi Plum Blossom Villa, you will experience a rural amorous feeling. Then transfer to Xixi Water Pavilion to have an overlook of this huge wetland. On your way to your next destination - Autumn Snow Thatching, you could across the reeds. At last, get back to Zhoujia Wharf and tour ends. The whole jurney covers about 2 hours

Walking Tour: Walking is a good way to explore Xixi National Wetland Park deeper and stretch your legs. Start from Zhoujia Village and walk to Plum and Bamboo Manor. Then turn to Anchorage Thatching and Hazy Fisher Village to feel the local folk custom. Crossing Xiaogu Bridge, you will get to Hezhu Street. After replenishing energy in Jiangjia Market, go to Hongzhong's Former Residence, Lihang Temple, Wondering Stream Hut, Gaozhuang, Yulin Town. After that, visit the top attractions Xixi Water Pavilion, Xixi Xixi Plum Villa, Xixi Thatched Cottage and left from Zhoujia Village. The walking route covers about 8 km and you need to cost 4 hours to finish it.

Where is Xixi National Wetland Park

Xixi National Wetland Park is located in the west part of Hangzhou city, about 20 kilormeters away from Hangzhou city center and 12 kilometers away from the Northeast Gate of the West Lake in Hangzhou.

• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to Xixi National Wetland Park: 43.5 km and 1.5~2 hours by car
• Hangzhou East Railway Station to Xixi National Wetland Park: 19 km and 1 hour around by car
• Hangzhou Railway Station to Xixi National Wetland Park: 14.5 km and 1 hour around by car
• West Lake to Xixi National Wetland Park: 12 km and 1 hour around by car
• Lingyin Temple to Xixi National Wetland Park: 8 km and 0.5 hour around by car

How to Get to Xixi National Wetland Park

There are city buses that can take you to Xixi National Wetland Park. However, those buses will waste you a lot of time on the way to get there. Normally, taxis or private cars are better and more popular for visitors.

Travel Xixi Wetland Park with China Discovery

If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Xixi National Wetland Park with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.

Electric Boat: There are four wharfs in the park and you can buy ticket in the tickets office of each wharf. The boat will have a stop in every wharf so you can get off to enjoy the beautiful scenery. You have only four opportunities to get on the boat. The ticket is CNY 60 per person.

Sculling Boat: Renting a sculling boat, you will have a rather free tour and you are able to choose to turn to each direction you want. The rental fee of one sculling boat is CNY 100 per hour and one boat can hold up to 6 people.

Electric Bike: Tourists are not permitted to take their own bikes to the park, but you rent one electric bike inside the scenic area. However, there is no specific biking trail there. And compared with biking, boating and walking are more popular.

Usually, visitors spend 2 days around to enjoy a classic Hangzhou tour to visit the West Lake Scenic Area, including the amazing West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing Tea Plantations, etc. If you want an in-depth Hangzhou tour, you can also pay another half day or so to visit Xixi National Wetland Park, one day around to Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, or one day or so to Thousand Islands Lake, etc. Check all Hangzhou Tours >>

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Also, you can spend 1 day to take a side trip to the nearby water towns like Wuzhen and Xitang in Jiaxing, 2~3 days to Putuoshan - one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, or 1 day to the popular Nanxun Old Town in Huzhou. Check more about Zhejiang Tours >>

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Besides, compared with just travelling Hangzhou, most of the visitors prefer to travel the metropolis Shanghai, Suzhou Gardens and Hangzhou Lakes in One Go! Such an amazing tour will take 5~6 days.

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Some visitors also ride a high speed train to Huangshan to visit the world-famous Yellow Mountain. A Hangzhou Huangshan tour needs about 5 days around.

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