Boat Tour of Qintong National Wetland Park

D1: Taixing Ancient Ginkgo Forest Park — Huangqiao Ancient Town (Huangqiao Park - Fuhui Zen Temple - Zhu Lane)

D2: Qintong National Wetland Park

Accommodation: Qinhu Lake Kaiyuan Mingting Hotel

Travel date: 2019.10.26

Travel mode: Self-drive

Accommodation: Qinhu Lake Kaiyuan Mingting Hotel

Yesterday we visited Taixing Ancient Ginkgo Forest Park and Huangqiao Ancient Town. In the evening, we arrived at Qinhu Lake Kaiyuan Mingting Hotel to meet up with companions. We had dinner together, which was abundant. Besides the fattest crabs of the season, all eight delicacies of Qinhu Lake were served. As someone who loves fish, I felt truly content and happy. I must thank my colleagues for their warmth; after enjoying such delicious food, I felt that with so many fresh delicacies in Jiangyan, I was reluctant to return to Nanjing. After dinner, we also enjoyed the hot springs here.

A huge mural of a water town at the hotel entrance.

The hotel lobby is opulent and comfortable.

Qinhu Lake Kaiyuan Mingting Hotel is located right on the shore of Qinhu Lake, with the north side facing the lake view.

In the morning, while the children were still fast asleep, we got up and strolled along the lakeshore. At that time, the park's cruise boats had already started their journeys. The lake and sky merged into one color before our eyes, and cruise boats, trees, and a pagoda unfolded a perfect picture of dynamic and static scenes.

Small flowers and grasses by the lake swayed, complementing the beautiful lake scenery.

From here, we could clearly see the towering three-faced Medicine Buddha Pagoda in the lake. The entire pagoda is 80 meters high, currently the tallest水上 Medicine Buddha Pagoda in the world.

The three faces correspond to the Buddha's three bodies: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Nirmanakaya. It is said to symbolize a person's past, present, and future.

On one side outside the hotel, there is a children's play area and two badminton courts.

The surroundings of the hotel are lush green and gentle like water.

Qinhu Lake is located in the Lixiahe region, one of the three famous depressions in China. Here, wetlands, ponds, and ditches crisscross, with sandbars and islands scattered like stars. Inside and outside the park, waterways are interwoven, with various aquatic plants and lush bank vegetation, providing fresh air.

Because the hotel is close to the scenic area, we walked to the scenic area.

The advantage of walking is that we can leisurely appreciate every scene.

Enjoying the beautiful wetland scenery in the fresh air is both eye-pleasing, exercise, and lung-cleansing.

Colorful boats are moored on the lively lake waters, while white-walled, gray-tiled villages are hidden in green forests.

Here, a fisherman paddles a small boat with cormorants for fishing. Wouldn't such a life make you, who are always busy, envious?

Both natural and artificial landscapes blend harmoniously in this space, rich and diverse.

We arrived at the park's main gate. This gate is very distinctive, made of five stacked pole boats, symbolizing the annual China Jiangyan · Qintong Boat Festival held here. I remember a few years ago, entering this gate required buying a ticket. After purchasing a ticket, visitors could choose to walk or take a boat tour, but if they wanted to take a boat, they had to buy an additional boat ticket. Now, this gate does not require a ticket to enter. The current park ticket includes the round-trip boat fare. If you just enter the gate and hang around the vicinity without going to the island, you don't need to buy a ticket. But it seems the park's route has changed compared to a few years ago; without a ticket, the walking area is very limited.

The arched bridge we just crossed is now in view. We are now inside the park looking back at the scenery we passed. In fact, the beauty of Qinhu Lake is boundless; it is not isolated by the presence of a park gate. There are good views both inside and outside the park.

Where there is water, there are bridges. The bridges built now are also beautiful and unique.

The park avenue leads us into the park. On both sides of the road are tall and dense camphor trees, with low shrubs in the middle. The boat-shaped shops on one side fit the scene well.

A food train shaped like a train; it was probably once food stalls, but for some reason, it is now just a model.

On one side, there is also an ocean world.

Ahead is the waiting hall built by the water. We will take a boat into the park from here, which is included in the ticket price. The waiting hall is shaped like a ship setting sail, once again showcasing the profound boat culture of Qintong.

The waiting hall has a gift shop with various local specialty gifts.

We took a boat into the core area of the park. After disembarking, we must pass through the China Qinhu Lake Wetland Science Museum. The location of this museum is very strategic; everyone must pass through, so whether you are interested or not, you receive wetland science information when you go through it. The museum has three floors with rich content.

The first floor exhibition theme is "Traces of Qinhu Lake," featuring areas such as Water Birth of Qinhu Lake, Bird Watching Paradise, Hometown of Milu Deer, Green Shadows and Creatures, Qinhu Lake Night, Footprints and Starry Sky, Rhythms of Qinhu Lake, and Immersive Qinhu Lake.

The presentation is very dreamy, combining live special effects with three-dimensional images, making it both educational and aesthetically pleasing.

The second floor theme is "Exploring Origins," with exhibition areas such as Exploration and Scenic Views, Wetland Milky Way, Qinhu Lake Boat Festival, Qinhu Lake Bricks and Tiles, Crisis and Recovery, Kidney of the Earth, and Ecological Garden. It introduces the geographical location, local cultural characteristics, and customs of Qinhu Lake, showcasing and explaining the role of wetlands.

Through vivid models, the Qintong Boat Festival is introduced. Qingming Festival is originally a day to worship ancestors, but the people of Qintong have turned it into a unique water carnival—the Qintong Boat Festival.

The scene of the ancient town Qintong is restored, showcasing its charm.

The third floor exhibition simulates the ecological scene of Qinhu Lake, displaying the diversity of wetland life through specimens of mammals, fish, and various birds.

It uses reversible louvers to show the four seasons of Qinhu Lake: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Exiting the science education center, a long boardwalk takes us walking on the lake surface.

The boardwalk is uniquely designed, not straight all the way. A small pavilion is built in the lake, both beautiful and allowing visitors to rest briefly. Then a 90-degree right-angle turn leads to another section of the boardwalk. The entire shape of the bridge is lively.

From the long boardwalk, we see the view. The bridge hidden among reeds appears and disappears.

The vast lake surface and wetland vegetation, both aquatic and terrestrial, are exceptionally rich and layered.

Resting in the pavilion, we look at the science museum we just visited. The pink building appears even more delicate amidst the green.

The simple and plain small pavilion has a thatched roof, appearing more natural.

The boardwalk takes several turns on the lake, so every stop offers a different view. Looking at the pavilion in the lake, the gradually yellowing lotus leaves on the lake surface also have a unique vitality compared to the uniform green of summer.

The aquatic vegetation in the wetland is rich. For example, what we often call reeds actually have specific names such as reeds, cattails, common reeds, and calamus. Groups and patches form a swaying barrier.

Look at the water quality of Qinhu Lake. The water plants are lush and swaying, and small fish swim freely, comfortable.

From another section of the boardwalk, we see the path we came from.

Here we can see more clearly: reeds sway, willows dance, metasequoias stand tall—various layers coexist harmoniously without interference, building a rich world.

A statue of a milu deer among the reeds.

We arrived at the rowboat dock. I remember when I brought my parents here last time, we didn't take a rowboat because they preferred to walk freely. Walking offers more freedom and choice; with legs under you, you can go anywhere. This time, taking a boat on the lake is a different way to see Qinhu Lake.

Each rowboat seats six people, with wooden benches and tables. It is different from traditional wooden boats and electric boats; it is manually rowed.

The rowboat has blue cloth with white flower curtains. Most of the rowers are older. They wear traditional blue cloth printed with flowers, slant-front ethnic costumes, traditional and elegant.

On the lake under willows, a small boat drifts.

Rowboats lined up at the dock.

We set off on the creaking little boat.

The boat woman rowed unhurriedly.

Qinhu Lake, also known as Magpie Lake, is 1.4 kilometers from east to west and 1.5 kilometers from north to south, shaped like a jade pendant. As the boat moves on the lake, the water is clear. The slow speed of the rowboat gives us enough time to enjoy the scenery on both sides. Layers of reeds, cattails, willows, pines... In October, the green gradually turns yellow, with a mix of yellow and green, rich in color.

The boat travels through distant waterways, creaking upstream. The boat woman rows steadily and rhythmically.

Rowing a rowboat seems easy but is not. If you don't master the direction, the boat will directly hit the bank. The boat woman struggled to steer the boat straight.

Taking a boat tour is leisurely. The clear river water allows us to see aquatic plants floating in the water. Reeds sway on both banks, and layered aquatic trees are visible in the distance. There are various small bridges in the waterways, and small pavilions by the river are the best embellishment.

It is extremely quiet here. We can hear the sound of oars and the splashing of water birds. The heart also calms down.

The water surface ripples gently as the oar passes, a breeze brushes the face. Our boat woman, a generous and cheerful sister, sang local folk songs in dialect... The creaking rowboat accompanied by the humming sound echoed in the air and lingered in our hearts.

Singing while boating in the water town.

The boat women rowed empty boats downstream, leaving for the next stop.

The gradually receding figures. The presence of water brings a sense of spirituality. The wide lake opens my heart and allows my eyes to see farther and farther.

We disembarked to enjoy the land scenery.

Stepping onto Bibo Bridge, we watched the boat woman rowing away, gradually disappearing at the river bend.

Bibo Bridge leads us into the dense forest.

In the dense forest, there is a milu deer park. On one side of the small square, there is a creative culture shop with many milu deer-themed creative products.

In the large space, a few milu deer stroll. The milu deer is a world-class rare protected animal. According to the "Milu Deer Habitat Investigation," the Qintong area is the hometown of the milu deer. The milu deer park in the scenic area has become a paradise for milu deer.

The milu deer has antlers like a deer, a face like a horse, hooves like a cow, and a body like a donkey—a "four不像" animal.

Here you can observe rare milu deer up close.

It stared at me so intently.

The light blue park shuttle looks beautiful in this setting.

In the green world, a white-walled, black-tiled folk house with symmetrical axis—isn't it also quite nice?

A detailed introduction to gourds. I didn't know that such a small gourd could have so many stories.

Under the large gourd, red strings are tied with various small praying gourds.

The rice field here is now golden in color.

With rice, we need vegetables! The vegetable garden is also abundant.

This is a floating bridge. Test your courage!

A bridge as solid as a city wall. The vegetation here is rich in both variety and color. The water ripples, and the reflections in the water also ripple.

This is a pastoral scene: tall woods with a few farmhouses, golden rice in front of the farmhouses, withered lotus leaves in the pond, and wooden boardwalks freely meandering.

In this small area, aquatic vegetation is abundant. Adding to the bank, willows droop, green branches hang over the lake, swaying in the wind. Various reflections are cast on the lake, creating a delightful scene with the small fish.

Beneath the willows, patches of yellow chrysanthemums are blooming brightly.

Step onto the path and go forward. We strolled through the Wetland Boutique Garden, Milu Deer Observation Garden, and Farming Fun Garden. Walking and resting, the park is large, so visitors appear sparse. All visitors are unhurried, with calm expressions, walking, looking, and chatting leisurely.

Earthen houses with thatched roofs; in front of the house, scarecrows are woven from straw, lifelike.

Farming Fun Garden: here, many large ancient farm tools are artificially built, including waterwheels, windmills, threshing equipment, and rice milling machines. Here you can see farm tools you have never seen before and experience farm life.

Watch children step onto the waterwheel to try their hand—isn't that more interesting than electronic games?

Adults also can't resist showing off their skills.

There is also a small horse track in the park, but it doesn't seem very busy.

Here, the tools used by lakeside fishermen for fishing are displayed.

This water area is a fishing zone.

Tools for casting nets to catch fish.

Taking a boat is very relaxing, swaying gently. After disembarking, we stop and go. Both water and land scenery are enjoyed without delay.

The scenic area has numerous waterways, suitable humidity, abundant vegetation, large reed marshes, and fresh air. Such an environment is also an important stopover for migratory birds like egrets.

Rich water systems, numerous bridges—each bridge is different upon close inspection.

Fresh air, lush aquatic plants, and verdant wetland plants on surrounding floating islands.

Qinhu Lake nurtures natural scenery of tranquil lakes, strange forests and animals, and strong rural flavor.

This thatched cottage is a farming museum, displaying various ancient farm tools specially collected from folk, of different sizes, ages, and functions.

This is a small hand mill.

We took a small boat back. Watching the rippling water, the long reeds and green plant forests drift behind the boat.

Occasional water birds stand quietly, their sharp eyes fixed on the water surface, waiting for prey to appear before making a sudden dive.

With abundant vegetation and pure air, the fragrance of plants can be easily caught by the sense of smell.

The natural wetland ecosystem supports many aquatic organisms, wetland organisms, and terrestrial organisms, with diverse types and superior resources. Many nationally protected animals use this as their main habitat. Roaming in Qinhu Lake Wetland Park, water birds often sing among the reeds, and wild ducks circle around the boats. Close contact with nature is fascinating and makes people linger.

At the dock, we got off the rowboat and walked along the boardwalk to the dock for large cruise boats. Along the way, the wetland scenery gradually showed autumn colors.

Walking on the wooden boardwalk, a group of beautiful, proud black swans appeared on the lake. Getting close to wild animals and plants brings us so close to nature.

Some of them elegantly draw straight ripples, while others swing their bodies with full air, drawing circles of traces. But all their eyes reveal an innate nobility and pride.

A boat tour of Qintong National Wetland Park, themed "water, wetland, and ecology," brought us into close contact with nature.