Wuhan's water areas hit new heights of ecological, green development

Dongxihu district now contains superior resources for scenery such as wetlands, parks, forests and flowers

The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was held from Nov 5-13 in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province.

Dubbed the "International Wetland City", Wuhan has showcased its efforts in ecological recovery and environmental protection during the event.

The Dongxihu district of Wuhan is known for its crisscrossing rivers and dense lakes. Surrounded by the Hanjiang River, Hanbei River, Lunhe River and Fuhe River, the district has 26 lakes within its 500 square-kilometer jurisdiction. The watery area in the district accounts for about one-fourth of its total area.

In recent years, the district has taken ecology and green development as its priority and accelerated construction of an ecological civilization, officials said.

A blueprint where parks and lakes surround communities and man and nature coexist harmoniously is gradually unfolding with construction of the ecologically friendly projects.

The Jinyin Lake National Urban Wetland Park in the district kicked off its construction in 2001. In 2007, it was listed as one of the first batch of national-level wetland parks in cities.

The park now contains superior resources for scenery, such as ponds, marshes and forests, after the planning of different natural landscapes.

There are 188 plant species around the lake, composed of 153 terrestrial plants and 35 aquatic plants. More than 10 kinds of birds can be spotted throughout the year, including great tits, turtle doves, wild ducks, egrets and sparrows.

Since 2013, the park has been smoothing the waterways by connecting the water within the park with the water systems outside. On the basis of retaining the existing vegetation, new green spaces were added to achieve the integration of the old and new species and landscapes.

Waterside pavilions, pontoons, wharves and other waterside spaces were planned to enrich elements of the scenery. The park adopted an internal circulation power system to connect the scattered lakes and ponds with bridges and culverts, providing visitors an enriching experience.

The park has also carried out a large number of projects in ecological restoration, building new roads and public facilities, protecting water bodies such as lakes and streams, and restoring aquatic plants such as bitter grass and canna lilies.

By introducing indigenous microorganisms to the water and upgrading water-monitoring technology, the park is rebuilding a healthier water ecosystem.

At present, the water quality of the park has been significantly improved, which can be seen by the recovery of the original waterscape and the self-purification capacity of the water.

The park receives about 400,000 visits and carries out more than 100 wetland science popularization activities annually.

It has become an ecological wetland space that is truly beneficial to the people.

Like the Jinyin Lake National Urban Wetland Park, the Dugong Lake National Wetland Park is another highlight project in the district's ecological layout.

Considering it is a key channel for migratory birds, the local administration planted 28 hectares of fir trees and more than 10 hectares of persimmon, loquat, jujube, pomegranate and other fruit trees in surrounding areas after investigating the needs of birds for food and habitat.

The trees didn't only build up the wetland's natural features, but provided enough beach space for birds to rest and forage.

At present, there are 177 kinds of vascular plants growing in the wild around the park.

Tens of thousands of weeping willows, reeds and other local plants as well as aquatic plants — such as cattails, calamus and water lilies — are spread throughout the nearby areas, which constantly attract visitors.

In addition to preserving ecology, the government has been digging into the commercial function of such parks and exploring innovative ways for entertainment and education.

The Yinghuaxi Park, completed in September, is connected with Jinghe Park in the north and Matoutan Park in the south, with a total length of 3.3 km.

The park introduced more than 40 cherry varieties that bloom throughout the spring.

The flowering period lasts from mid-February to the middle of April, offering people a floral feast.

The Lianhua Lake Park is an ecological park designed to embrace the contrast between quiet fir trees and refreshing lotus flowers. Giving full consideration to the needs of residents, it removed the walls around the park and merged the fir forest area with the waterfront landscape.

The waterfront area in the lake was revamped with lakeside paths, a lake-viewing platform and entertainment areas to form a landscape that is impressive to the eye and enjoyable for the body.

In recent years, Dongxihu district has continued to promote the construction of high-quality parks and green spaces, creating park towns and livable urban areas in the wetland city and providing more green spaces for the public.

As of June, the total area of green spaces in Dongxihu district is about 36 sq km; the park area is about 12 sq km, and the per capita green spaces and park areas has surpassed 14 sq m.

The local residents are truly enjoying a kind of "park freedom".

In recent years, the district has strived to protect water scientifically by intercepting sources of pollution, regulating outfalls, dredging and improving the water system as a whole, according to officials.

The latest monitoring results show that 100 percent of the water sources in the district have reached the standard of drinking water and the water quality of 26 lakes in the district has improved significantly.