Qianhu Wetland: A Healing Encounter with Autumn and Migratory Birds
🌅 Early Morning・Migratory Bird Theater
At 6:30, when climbing onto the birdwatching platform, the morning mist had not yet cleared. A flock of swans skimmed across the lake, the sound of their wings cutting through the water startling a group of geese resting in the reeds. Through the binoculars, you can see their orange-yellow beak tips clearly; photography enthusiasts say these are the first large swans migrating south this year. The birdwatching hut at the end of the wooden boardwalk is the best place to wait quietly. Around 9 o’clock, gray cranes will fly overhead in formation, with wingspans reaching 1.5 meters wide.
🚶♀️ Morning・Boardwalk Stroll
Hiking along the 3-kilometer-long waterside boardwalk, the wooden planks beneath your feet gently sway with each step. The wetland science signs state that there are 136 species of birds here. Suddenly, a black waterhen darts out from a corner, scaring away the egrets perched on the reeds. Taking a break at the circular viewing platform, you notice the lake water is so clear you can see the underwater grass, and sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the boardwalk.
🌉 Afternoon・Panoramic View
The red viewing platform is the best spot to overlook the wetland. The figure-eight-shaped lake bay looks like a spilled palette of colors. In the distance, traffic flows continuously over the lake-crossing bridge, while nearby windmills turn slowly. A girl dressed in Hanfu holds an oil-paper umbrella, taking photos in front of a sculpture. The auntie at the snack shop says that in about half a month, the reeds will all turn yellow, and the entire wetland will become a golden sea.
🌇 Dusk・Reed Marsh Sunset
Walking to the end of the west boardwalk, you catch the 6:17 sunset. The setting sun dyes the sky a honey-orange color, and the silhouettes of the reeds sway in the wind. A photographer uncle sets up his tripod, waiting for the "golden hour." When the last ray of sunlight brushes past the windmill blades, a fish suddenly leaps from the water, shattering the lake’s glowing reflection.
📸 Travel Tips
Best birdwatching time: 7:00-9:00, recommended to bring binoculars with 8x magnification or higher
The boardwalk is 3.2 kilometers long; wear non-slip shoes, as some sections have water accumulation
At the entrance, the "Wetland Family" farmhouse restaurant is recommended, especially the steamed bass and reed marsh free-range chicken eggs