Located in Zhangzheng Town, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park has a total planning area of 8,840 acres and is an integral part of Yinchuan's "Seventy-two Lakes" in history. Mingcui Lake accounts for 80% of the lake area, and the scenic area is rich in biodiversity, with 109 species of vascular plants, 69 species of aquatic phytoplankton and 97 species of birds. It is the first national wetland park in western China and the Yellow River Basin, "the first successful restoration masterpiece of three-dimensional ecological desertification wetland in China", and a national water conservancy scenic spot, enjoying the reputation of "China's most beautiful wetland park" and "China's best wetland for ecological protection".
Mingcui Lake is located in Zhangzheng Town, Xingqing District, with a total planning area of 8,840 acres, which is an important part of Yinchuan's "Seventy-two Lakes" in history, the first national wetland park in western China and the Yellow River Basin, "the first successful restoration masterpiece of three-dimensional ecological desertification wetland in China", a national water conservancy scenic spot, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, and enjoys the reputation of "China's most beautiful wetland park" and "China's best wetland for ecological protection". The Yinqing Highway passes through the lake and divides it into two lakes, north and south, of which: the South Lake is the core area of wetland ecological protection, covering an area of 3,845 acres, and only wetland protection and restoration construction are carried out; Beihu covers an area of 4,995 acres, and is engaged in the development and operation of wetland landscape construction and wetland eco-tourism projects. Mingcui Lake accounts for 80% of the lake area, and the scenic area is rich in biodiversity, with 109 species of vascular plants, 69 species of aquatic phytoplankton and 97 species of birds. The lake is rippling, the reeds are rippling, the willows are still around, the waterwheel is squeaking, the fish is shallow bottom, the birds are singing green, the water heron is flying from afar, and the wind and lotus have been turning up; The leaves of the lotus are infinitely green, and the lotus flowers are different red, which are typical and representative in the arid areas of northwest China and the alluvial plain of the Yellow River.
Looking at the water heron from afar, the water heron flies up, and the wind lotus has been turning upside down. "Mingcui Lake is a scenery all year round, with a hundred birds singing in spring, a lotus breeze in summer, a reed maze in autumn, and a passion for ice and snow in winter. In the spring of Mingcui Lake Scenic Area, the lake light plays willows, the grass and trees are smoky, the birds fly and gather, and the fish leap in the meantime, it is a good place for citizens to go green, hike, and enjoy the flowers. In summer, the breeze is gentle on the shore of Mingcui Lake, and the fragrance of lotus is overflowing, boating on the lake facing the rising sun, picking lotus and appreciating lotus, and swimming in the wetland reed maze, which makes people feel refreshed and happy. The cool water expansion project in the scenic area and the lake-view hot pot barbecue experience are even more unforgettable. "The sunset and the lonely bird fly together, and the autumn water grows together in the sky." Stroll through Mingcui Lake in autumn, pick lotus canopies in early autumn, chase reed flowers in the wind, enjoy wild chrysanthemums on the roadside, watch egrets fly together, and feel the comfortable and leisurely slow life. In winter, Mingcui Lake transforms into a snow-capped world where you can experience the speed and excitement of the ski slopes and enjoy the bright sunshine.
In the Mingcui wetland, the morning glow is full of sky, the lake is rippling, the reeds are rippling, the willows are still around, the fish are shallow bottom, and the birds are singing green, not the south of the Yangtze River is better than the south of the Yangtze River.
Transportation guides
It can be reached by plane, train, high-speed rail or self-driving, and the traffic signs along the way are clear, and you can take a taxi, bus, self-drive and other ways to arrive smoothly.
Excursion routes
Main Entrance: Moonlight Wharf, Boat Ride, Reed Maze, Yellow River Waterwheel, Thousand Mu Lotus Pond, Water World, Wetland Science Center, Land Expansion, Longteng Road, Seeking the Source, Listening to the Spring.
Duration: 3-7 hours.
How to play
First stop – the Reed Labyrinth
The reed maze was designed by Zhu Renmin, a well-known professor of human ecological restoration (known as "China's Da Vinci" and "the father of China's ecological restoration design" by the United Nations). Its creation is inspired by the Bagua shapes in traditional Chinese culture. The labyrinth waterway is more than ten kilometers long, the longest one from north to south is 1,200 meters, and the widest one from east to west is 800 meters. The reed maze is a paradise for birds, and most of the birds inhabit it, such as herons.
Tour duration: 30 minutes.
The second stop - the Yellow River waterwheel
The waterwheel is an ancient agricultural irrigation tool in China, and it is a machine that uses water power to operate created by the ancient working people in the process of transforming nature. According to legend, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty Bi Lan made a prototype, and then after continuous transformation and improvement, it was popularized and used in Shu State, and was widely used for agricultural irrigation in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and has a history of more than 1,700 years.
The waterwheel of the Yellow River is the epitome of agricultural civilization along the Yellow River and the witness of the vicissitudes of history. The double drainage truck of Mingcui Lake is handmade of pure wood, with a diameter of 16 meters for the large waterwheel and a diameter of 14 meters for the small waterwheel, and it takes 4 minutes to rotate one circle. The river rushed, slowly turning the spokes with the inertia of the movement of the water potential, and one by one the buckets filled with river water were lifted up step by step. At the top, the bucket slopes naturally, pumping water into the aqueduct and into the irrigated farmland. Because the water flow is unstable and it is impossible to drive the water wheel with the water flow, the double drainage truck at Mingcui Lake is electric.
Tour duration: 30 minutes.
The third stop - a thousand acres of lotus ponds
Mingcui Lake's thousand acres of lotus pond can be called the most lotus in Yinchuan; Just like Zhu Ziqing's description in "Moonlight on the Lotus Pond": "On the zigzag lotus pond, the leaves of the fields are visible, like the skirts of the dancing girls." There are those who are open, and there are those who are shy. Occasionally, the breeze blows, and you can faintly smell the faint fragrance."
Duration: 60 minutes.
Fourth stop – Water World
Mingcui Lake is suitable for travel all year round, where you can hear the singing of hundreds of birds in spring, enjoy the lotus flowers in summer, visit the reed maze in autumn, and enjoy the passion of ice and snow in winter. The large-scale happy water world created by Mingcui Lake has many projects such as tsunami surfing, rainbow slides, crazy loudspeakers, children's water battles, etc., and you can enjoy the fun of water sports in the hot summer.
Tour duration: 2 hours.
The fifth stop - Wetland Science Center
The observation tower is located on the main axis of Mingcui Lake, this building has a total of 11 floors and is 53 meters high, which is the commanding height of the central area of Mingcui Lake and the main landmark building of the park. On the first floor of the observation tower is the wetland science education center, which mainly popularizes wetland science knowledge for young people. On the platform on the second floor, a variety of special snacks can meet the needs of everyone's taste buds. The third to tenth floors are **knowledge** of birds**. Take the elevator up to the 11th floor, through three high-powered telescopes, you can ** the panoramic view of Mingcui Lake, the "suspended floor" of the fully transparent tempered glass structure, is an excellent place to take a souvenir, and it is also a must-visit place to experience the "volley view".
Tour duration: 30 minutes.
The sixth stop - land expansion
Mingcui Lake Land Development has undertaken the development training of employees of nearly 1,000 enterprises and institutions inside and outside the region, and is an ideal choice for enterprises and institutions to carry out staff development training. The main projects of land expansion include graduation wall, drilling power grid, trust back fall, road of the brave, etc.
Tour duration: 2 hours.
The seventh stop - Longteng Road
This road is called Longzhu Forest, also known as Longteng Road, it is composed of 80 dragon pillars, 40 on each side, each dragon pillar has different carving techniques, different expressions.
Duration: 20 minutes.
The eighth stop - the source
The big stone we saw in front of us was taken from Qinghai, the source of the Yellow River, so we named this stone "Miyuan". The so-called source search is to find the source of the Yellow River. Due to the perennial erosion of the Yellow River, such a strange stone has been formed. Does it look like a frog catching flying insects from the side? Below the stone is the lotus pond, there are more than 10 kinds of lotus varieties, there are the well-known champion red, red thousand leaves, friendship peony lotus, etc., July to August is the best time to enjoy the lotus.
Duration: 15 minutes.
The ninth station - Tingquan
This stacked stone waterfall, has the trend of "looking at the waterfall hanging in front of the river", you can feel a trace of coolness under the scorching sun, and then look at the inside and outside of the pond, the green willows are shady, the small bridge flows water, the fish and shrimp are in groups, the warblers sing and swallow dance, full of a wonderful and harmonious strange charm. A few miles away, you can hear the sound of the waterfall flowing water, so it is named "Listening Spring"! On the sparkling surface of the lake, embedded with speckled red, a lively carp is eager to wait for you to feed, so that you can "listen to the scenery" and feel a different fun at the same time!
Duration: 20 minutes.
*: Ningxia culture and tourism