Specimens of animals and plants at the museum present the wetland ecosystem in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo by Qin Jirong/China Daily]

Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, Xixi is only 5 kilometers away from the West Lake, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in the city.

Water is the soul of Xixi. With an area of 11.5 square kilometers, the park is mostly covered by streams, ponds, lakes and swamps, with six long rivers forming a tangled network of waterways. Nearly 70 percent of the park is water and the length of waterways inside the park surpasses 100 kilometers.

Additionally, about 85 percent of the land in Xixi is covered by plants such as reeds, willows and persimmon trees and a variety of wildlife living among them, making Xixi a great platform for animal and bird watching, scientific research and education.

Because of its abundant water resources and species, Xixi wetland is an important part of Hangzhou's ecosystem and helps purify water, mitigate flooding, regulate the climate and maintain biodiversity. Nestled in an urban area of the city, it is dubbed "the natural purifier of Hangzhou".

As well as providing a haven for people to enjoy the region's natural charm, Xixi wetland is also a cultural treasure trove which has been depicted and extolled by scholars throughout history.