Mingcui Lake Wetland 鸣翠湖

About Mingcui Lake Wetland

Reed channels, lotus areas and bird habitat give it a different character from the desert attractions to the west. The wetland interpretation centre explains the water, plants and wildlife, while the public routes offer closer views. Seasonal recreation is only one part of the site; choose a quiet wetland visit if that is your main interest.

Mingcui Lake was originally the middle section of Chang Lake (长湖), which silted up in the late Ming and early Qing and split into three separate lakes. The unnamed middle lake was renamed Daozu Lake (道祖湖) after a Taoist priest built a shrine on its bank during the Yongzheng era, and became known as Daozui Lake (岛嘴湖) after an earthquake in 1739 destroyed the shrine. In 2000 the local government began developing it for wetland protection and renamed it Mingcui Lake, for its swaying green reeds (翠) and calling birds (鸣).

The lake covers about 288 hectares (2.88 km2) with an average depth of 1.6 metres. Development included around 100 million yuan invested in returning farmland to lake (退耕还湖) and building the surrounding wetlands into a park. In September 2006 the State Forestry Administration (国家林业局) approved it as a national wetland park, the Yinchuan Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park (银川鸣翠湖国家湿地公园), covering a total area of 6.67 square kilometres, about 9 kilometres west of the city centre and 3 kilometres east of the Yellow River.

What to look for

• Reed channels and seasonal lotus areas shape the lake landscape.
• The wetland interpretation centre explains local habitats.

Location & getting there

Getting to Mingcui Lake Wetland

Use Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park in Zhangzheng town, Xingqing District. Check which shore routes, boats and viewing facilities are operating before selecting a ticket or activity package.