We visited Qinhu National Wetland Park 溱湖国家湿地公园 on the way from Nantong to Taizhou during our 7-day tour of Jiangsu, China. The wetland park is located in the northeast part of Jiangyan District, Taizhou City. The beautiful park is easily accessible by car from Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Changzhou, and Nantong - all within 2 hours of driving.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Qinhu is also called Magpie Lake 鸡雀湖 as its pristine environment attracted many magpies here. The black and white magpies are considered an auspicious bird by Chinese.
Qin Lake naturally divides Qinhu National Wetland Park into western and eastern areas. Passing through the main entrance, we arrived at the western area. As the major scenic spots are located in the eastern area, we took an ornate sightseeing boat from the Boat-Waiting Hall to the eastern side.
First stop after getting off the sightseeing boat was Qinhu National Wetland Science Museum.
The museum exhibits highlight the wildlife and cultural aspects of Qin Lake through art. This exhibit is a model of a boat taking part in Qin Lake's famous annual Qintong Boat Festival.
From the Qinhu National Wetland Science Museum, we walked on the boardwalk above the lake to the wetland's sanctuary known as Wetland Experience Park.
It's just a short and very pleasant walk with light breezes brushing our faces as we strolled on the boardwalk just above the gentle ripples of placid pristine water.
Large expanses of lush green aquatic plants and reeds grow on the criss-crossing mesh of serene watercourses - the sanctuary of elk and water birds. This was a sculpture - we didn't spot any elk during our visit 😥 Perhaps, they were hiding away from the large throngs of tourists.
Visitors can take hand rowed wooden boats to view the wetland sanctuary up close and personal.
The boats were all rowed by strong senior ladies. Our captain was one of the youngest at age 70. She had been rowing boats on Qin Lake since she was a teen.
She had a hearty voice and infectious joyful spirit.
The slow small hand rowed boats are the best way to appreciate the wetland's beautiful scenery.
After disembarking the row boats, we came to a small sanctuary showcasing animals of the wetland.
The elk that roam the marshes.
Chinese or Yangtze alligators 扬子鳄. Found in eastern China where the Yangtze meets the sea, adult Chinese alligators grow to just slightly longer than 2 metres. They are rarely found in the wild now due to pollution and loss of natural habitat.
We reboarded the sightseeing boat to the next attraction at Qinhu National Wetland Park - the ancient Shengshou Temple 寿圣寺. Visitors can also walk on the boardwalk from the wetlands toward the north and west for 20 minutes to reach the temple. If I come here again, I would take the boardwalk over the water - I am sure the view of the lake would be breathtaking.
The ancient Shengshou Temple built during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) was sadly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976). The temple was rebuilt in 2003 on the northwest bank of the Qin Lake. At that time, just Mountain Gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Hall of the Great Buddha were constructed.
In 2009, Shuiyun Pavilion, Bell and Drum Towers, Medicine Buddha Pagoda and other buildings were added.
At a height of 81 meters (270 feet), the pagoda is the world's tallest Medicine Buddha built over water.
The three-side Medicine Buddha stands on a lotus pedestal at the centre of the pagoda. The three sides represent the past, present and future.
The Medicine Buddha is the Buddha of healing who relieves suffering through the medicine of his teachings.
I wish I could come here during the period between Qingming Festival and the May Day Holiday to watch the spectacular Qintong Boat Festival 溱潼会船节. It's a tradition dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) honouring victims of war. Hundreds of splendidly decorated boats from surrounding villages will gather on Qin Lake (near the Medicine Buddha). There will be stage opera, folk dance, lion dance, dragon dance and dragon boat races.
Hope I can have a chance to come back to Qinhu National Wetland Park and spend more time in this beautiful place.
Date visited: 10 May 2018
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