“A zigzag stream is veiled in mist”. The beauty of Xixi Wetland lies in its water, which not only nourishes local farmers and fishermen and makes a typical element of water towns in the south of the Yangtze, but has also inspired numerous poems and proses since ancient times. As it were, Xixi Wetland is a unique window to know the Jiangnan water town culture and folklore of Hangzhou. 

Hangzhou has continuously made new advances in the protection of Xixi Wetland and pushed ahead with the project for comprehensive conservation of the Wetland. The city has spared no effort to apply for and build the first national wetland park—Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park in China and found its own way to protect and utilize wetlands, known as “Xixi Mode”.  

To strength the protection and management of Xixi National Wetland Park, Hangzhou has formulated and promulgated Regulations on Protection and Management of Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park, which was the first special law for a particular wetland park in China. The Regulations is a legal guarantee for the effective protection and management of Xixi National Wetland Park and serves as a guidance for the protection and utilization of wetland resources in China. 

During the Promotion Week of World Wetland Day that falls on February 5, 2023, some foreign friends who were studying, living or working in Hangzhou, visited Xixi Wetland to experience Chinese aesthetic ideas and conceptions in admiring plum blossoms. They talked freely to their hearts’ contents while drinking wine from cups floating through the winding water course as ancient Chinese refined scholars did, and visited old street to witness the great changes and fast development of Xixi. 

Sericulture and Fishery 

Experiencing Chinese traditional intangible heritages 

The pleasure boat started from Zhoujia Village Wharf and arrived at Xixi Farming and Fishery Culture Exhibition Center: Fishing Village in Mist. The Exhibition Center features three exhibition halls, namely, Stories of Sericulture and Silk, Wedding Customs of Xixi and Dwellings in Xixi, displaying the local features of water town dwellings and the unsophisticated farming culture. 

“Since the Tang Dynasty, Xixi has been renown for sericulture. Local residents had mulberry trees planted in front and behind houses and dug fishing ponds near their dwellings”. He Hongbo, a narrator of Xixi Wetland, introduced the history of sericulture in Xixi at “Stories of Sericulture and Silk” section. 

At Xixi Wedding Customs Exhibition Hall, Moshchelkov Vasilii from Russia showed strong interests in “Wedding Customs of Xixi”. “Chinese wedding customs are different from ours. What impresses me most is that they pick the bride up by boat, maybe due to the well-developed water system here,” he said. 

Moshchelkov Vasilii is a doctoral candidate in Zhejiang University. It was his third visit to Xixi Wetland. Previously, he came here by himself for sightseeing, but this time he had more profound experience of the folk customs and culture of Xixi. 

Bouchaib from Morocco said, “I have been to Xixi for several times, but this is my first time to learn about the wedding customs of Xixi. I believe it is worthwhile to conserve and inherit the culture.” 

“The dragon boat is awe-inspiring!” exclaimed Bouchaib, feeling the head of the dragon boat with his hands. Dragon Boat Race is a folk culture and tradition in Xixi Wetland and Jiangcun region. The hilarious race is held annually at the deep pond of Jiangcun Village during Dragon Boat Festival.  

While walking along the crowded flagstone-paved old street lined with various shops, the visitors’ attention were caught by Jiangnan fabrics, homemade fried dough twists and small bamboo baskets of various colors. He Hongbo told them, “Xixi small bamboo basket was popular in the late Qing Dynasty. It was originated from Laodongyue Village in Liuxia some 150 years ago.”  

“Chinese handicrafts are so exquisite, even a small basket has a long history,” said Olivia, who was from Ukraine.

They then experienced pounding glutinous rice pastes. Justin from USA was so skillful in exerting his strength that even the owner of the shop would like to employ him.

“I’ve never eaten glutinous rice cake, but I know it is made of glutinous rice. My favorite dish is Braised Dongpo Pork, a famous delicacy of Hangzhou,” said Olivia.

Admiring Plum Blossoms along Zigzag Stream in Spring

Plum blossoms of Xixi Wetland will be in full bloom next week

Xixi has been known for plum blossoms, bamboos, reeds and flowers since the Tang Dynasty. “Admiring Plum Blossom at Xixi” was one of the top 18 scenic spots of West Lake in the Qing Dynasty. 

Now, it is the best season for admiring plum blossoms in Xixi Wetland, which has over 300 mu of plum groves with more than 20,000 plum trees in rich varieties and colors, including vermilion, light pink, green and scarlet.

Chinese have been particular about admiring plum blossoms.

There are three ways of admiring plum blossoms along crooked stream in Xixi: 1) admiring plum blossoms that reach out above water in welcoming posture ; 2) rowing boat along the creek flanked by plums that are reachable by hand; 3) admiring plum blossoms by boat while sipping a cup of refreshing tea and listening to a stanza of Yue Opera. 

Olivia was excited to find one or two blooming plum blossoms among the countless buds and urged everyone to take photos, “this is my first time to appreciate plum blossoms in Xixi, I have to record it as a memento.”

After relishing the charm of “slanting branches casting shadows over clear water”, the boat arrived at Xixi Plum Villa featured by vast expanse of plum groves and winding path leading to secluded place. Occasionally, birds were gliding through the sky, all the more highlighting the tranquility of the plum villa. 

The wetland has nourished myriads of creatures. On the plate that reads “it’s everybody’s responsibility to protect wetland” prepared by Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Forestry & Water Resoures to arouse people’s awareness for the protection of wetland, everybody signed their names and expressed their love for Xixi and Hangzhou in their own languages. Then, they made their due contribution to the protection of wetland by claiming plum blossoms.

“I like Hangzhou very much. I am really grateful to have the chance to know Jiangnan culture of Hangzhou better,” said Bouchaib. 

 Olivia expressed the wish that her dream may come true in the new year. 

Building “Xixi Mode” picturesque rivers and lakes 

Finding Hangzhou’s own way of wetland protection 

“I live near Xixi Wetland. I’v supposed it’s not easy to conserve such a large stretch of wetland in the middle of the city. I think Hangzhou does a great job in wetland protection,” exclaimed Bouchaib. 

Justin has lived and worked in Hangzhou for as long as 12 years. He has always considered Hangzhou as a garden city with harmonious coexistence of human and nature. He enjoys spending spare time with his family here to enjoy the nature. 

There are 3 rivers and lakes in Xixi Wetland, of which, Jiangcun Harbour and Wuchang Harbour were honored the title of “Provincial Level Beautiful Rivers and Lakes” in 2019, and Yanshan River was honored the title of “ Municipal Level Beautiful Rivers and Lakes” in 2020. 

Actually, the history Yanshan River dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty. It is said that Lord Zhao Gou of the Song Dynasty used to enter Xixi by dragon boat by way of Yanshan River. He had a flagstone-paved chariot road built along Yanshan River at the foot of Laohe Mountain, Qinting Mountain and Jiangjun Mountain. The road leads to the Cave Palace in Yuhang with a length of nearly 20km and a width enough for five horses to run side by side. Most of the road has now been buried under the asphalt-paved Xixi Road. However, another flagstone-paved trail was built along the river years ago. 

Ecological conservation is in top priority for Xixi Wetland. “Through many years’ efforts, Xixi Wetland has remarkably improved bio-diversity. There are now 1040 species of vascular plants, 474 species more than that in the end of 2011. The species of birds has been increased by 43 to 196, while the species of insects has been increased by 173 to 898,” according to He Hongbo.

The data clearly shows the significant changes of Xixi Wetland under scientific treatment. 

“The beauty of Xixi Wetland lies in water”. Monitoring results in the previous years show that the water quality of Xixi has been upgraded from between third and fourth grade in 2012 to steadily second grade at present. 

In the process of water treatment, Xixi launched the comprehensive treatment projects of using coral sands to channel clear water into the city and treating water environment of the Wetland to improve the quality of the supply water for the wetland ecology from the source. 

Wetland has been hailed as the kidney of the city. Hangzhou is making all-round efforts to advance the construction of an international wetland city, enabling common people to get closer to wetlands and letting more tourists from around the world to enjoy the unique beauty of Xixi.