Haikou Tanfengyang Wetland Park is located in the Longhua District of Haikou City, capital of southern China’s Hainan Province, covering an area of 662.22 hectares.

The park area encompasses four different types of wetland: fluvial (formed by rivers), lacustrine (formed by lakes), marsh (formed by lagoons) and artificial (formed by reservoirs). With over 320 hectares of unique volcanic terrain, ample precipitation and a clear incline, subterranean water gathers readily in the park area, which wells to the surface through springs.

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Tanfengyang Wetland can be likened to both a sponge and a filter, soaking up water and protecting against floods while purifying the water that flows through it. It is also a paradise for the fauna and flora that call it home, with over 500 species of vascular plant and more than 50 species of bird. Among these are nationally-protected plants, including the Hainan Parasol tree (Firmiana hainanensis), “Water Cauliflower” (Ottelia cordata), and the Common Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon), as well as nationally-protected birds like the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and the Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis).

At the end of 2017, Tanfengyang Wetland was officially designated a provincial wetland park, and the provincial forestry department began ecological restoration and conservation work. Today, the park is sprawling with greenery among the lucid waters, and pleasant scenes of birds (sometimes riding on the back of buffalo) and children playing can be witnessed by visitors. The rice paddies at Tanfengyang are also a sight to see, and if you look closely, you can see farmers toiling as they plant seedlings for the next harvest.

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

Photo: Chen Song / Xinhua

作者：David Janke