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5A LevelWetlands

Baiyangdian Lake

Baiyangdian Lake

Hebei · Baoding

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Category:Natural Scenery

Baiyangdian Lake, known as the 'Pearl of North China,' is the largest freshwater lake in the North China Plain, featuring vast reed marshes, blooming lotus flowers, and a rich water town culture. It is also a historic site of the Yanling Team's anti-Japanese resistance, blending red memories with natural beauty. Visitors can cruise through the reed maze, watch birds, admire lotus flowers, and savor the local 'Whole Fish Feast.'

INTRODUCTION

About This Attraction

Baiyangdian: Lotus Marshes, Reed Seas, and the Red Memory of the Yanling Team

1. Overview: The Kidney of North China, Jiangnan of the North

Baiyangdian Lake, located at the border of Baoding and Cangzhou cities in Hebei Province, is the largest freshwater lake and wetland ecosystem in the North China Plain, often hailed as the 'Kidney of North China.' Its geographical coordinates are approximately 38°43′–39°02′N, 115°38′–116°07′E, with a total area of about 366 square kilometers (core lake area), and a water surface that can exceed 300 square kilometers during high-water periods. As an important part of the Daqing River southern branch system in the Haihe River basin, Baiyangdian consists of 143 lakes of various sizes and over 3,700 ditches and channels. The largest lake, Baiyangdian itself, covers about 36.8 square kilometers, giving the entire lake group its name.

The Baiyangdian wetland ecosystem holds significant ecological and scientific value, listed in the 'China Important Wetland Directory' and designated as a national wetland park in 2017. Key data are as follows:

Water area: Approximately 366 square kilometers at normal water level, with a maximum storage capacity of about 1.07 billion cubic meters.
Number of lakes: 143, of which 99 are larger than 1 square kilometer.

PRACTICAL INFO

Travel Essentials

Opening Hours

Opening hours: April 1 to October 31 (peak season) 8:00-18:00; November 1 to March 31 (off season) 9:00-17:00.

Ticket Price

Ticket prices: Peak season adult ticket 80 yuan/person, off season 40 yuan/person. Attractions within the scenic area (such as Lotus Grand View Garden, Cultural Garden) require separate tickets, with a combined ticket price of about 200 yuan/person. Discounts: Seniors over 60, children under 1.2 meters, active military personnel, and disabled people with valid certificates are free; students with student ID get half price.

How to Get There

Self-driving: From Beijing, take the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway (G4) to the Baoding exit, then transfer to the Baoding-Cangzhou Expressway (S52) to the Baiyangdian toll station in Anxin County, about 2 hours' drive. The scenic area has a large parking lot with a fee of 10 yuan per visit. Public transportation: Take a high-speed train from Beijing South Railway Station to Baiyangdian Station (about 1 hour), then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus (fare 10 yuan, 30 minutes) to the dock. Alternatively, take a bus from Baoding Passenger Transport Center to Anxin County (fare 15 yuan, 1 hour). Within the scenic area: Visitors must take a boat from the dock, with options of 'eco-friendly electric boat' (40 yuan/person) and 'manual wooden boat' (60 yuan/person, can be chartered). Boat routes are divided into 'East Line' (Lotus Grand View Garden, Cultural Garden) and 'West Line' (Mandarin Duck Island, Leisure Island), with a full journey of about 2–3 hours.

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2. Historical Evolution: The Vicissitudes of a Thousand-Year Water Town

2.1 Ancient Period: From 'Jueli Lake' to 'Baiyangdian'

The formation of Baiyangdian dates back to the mid-Holocene, about 10,000 years ago, when the Yellow River changed course and marine transgression occurred, forming a depression between the piedmont alluvial fan of the Taihang Mountains and the west coast of Bohai Bay, gradually evolving into a lake. The earliest written record appears in Zuo Si's 'Rhapsody on the Wei Capital' (3rd century) as 'Jueli Lake,' which Li Shan's annotation in the Tang Dynasty, citing the 'Commentary on the Water Classic,' identifies as the present-day Baiyangdian area. During the Northern Song Dynasty, to defend against Liao cavalry, the Song army built the 'Tangpu Defense Line,' using the lake as a natural barrier and constructing ditches and dikes, forming a 'water Great Wall.' In the Ming Dynasty (1488–1505), the lake was officially named 'Baiyangdian' because the water appeared white and sparkling, and the reeds looked like a vast 'white ocean.' Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Baiyangdian multiple times, built palaces, and left poems such as 'Gazing at the white ocean water, sails open among distant trees.'

2.2 Modern Period: Red Cradle and Ecological Crisis

After the full outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan in 1937, Baiyangdian became an important part of the Central Hebei Anti-Japanese Base. In 1939, local fishermen and hunters formed the 'Yanling Team,' using homemade muskets (commonly called 'da taigan') and their knowledge of waterways to ambush Japanese motorboats and transport ships in the reed marshes. They fought over 70 battles, killing or capturing nearly 1,000 Japanese and puppet soldiers. Writer Sun Li based his novel 'Lotus Lake' on this background, spreading the red story of Baiyangdian across the country. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Baiyangdian faced multiple drying crises due to upstream reservoir interception and industrial pollution, with the most severe period being 1983–1988 when it dried up for five consecutive years. In 2017, with the establishment of Xiong'an New Area, Baiyangdian was designated as an ecological protection core area. Through projects like diverting water from the Yellow River and returning farmland to wetland, water quality improved from inferior Class V to Class III–IV, restoring the ecological picture of 'green reeds and red lotus.'

3. Layout of the Scenic Area: A Three-Dimensional Picture of Water and Land

The Baiyangdian Scenic Area follows an overall pattern of 'one lake, two islands, three belts, and four zones,' with the core tourist area concentrated in Anxin County, covering about 36 square kilometers. The layout and dimensions of major attractions are as follows:

3.1 Lotus Grand View Garden

Located in the northeast of Baiyangdian, covering about 2,000 mu (133 hectares), with water area accounting for 70%. The garden features a 3,888-meter-long 'Lotus Appreciation Corridor,' the longest water lotus-viewing plank road in China. It is divided into 'Chinese and Foreign Famous Lotus Area,' 'Premium Lotus Garden,' 'Water Lily Area,' etc., planting 366 lotus varieties, including rare ones like 'Da Sajin,' 'Thousand-Petal Lotus,' and 'Twin Lotus.' The core building, 'Lotus Viewing Tower,' is a three-story antique building, 18.6 meters high, offering a panoramic view of the vast lotus fields from the top.

3.2 Baiyangdian Cultural Garden

Covering about 800 mu (53 hectares), it consists of the 'Yanling Team Memorial Hall,' 'Kangxi Water Hunting Palace,' and 'Gazi Village.' The Yanling Team Memorial Hall has a building area of about 2,600 square meters, divided into 6 exhibition halls, displaying over 300 historical photos and more than 200 artifacts, including the 'da taigan' muskets and wooden boats used by the Yanling Team. The Kangxi Water Hunting Palace is a Qing-style building complex covering about 50 mu (3.3 hectares), with the main building 'Imperial Study' being five bays wide (about 18 meters) and three bays deep (about 10 meters), featuring a hip roof with glazed tiles, recreating the grandeur of Qing emperors' visits.

3.3 Mandarin Duck Island

Covering about 60 mu (4 hectares), it is known for folk culture performances. The island has the 'Baiyangdian Folk Museum' with a building area of about 1,200 square meters, displaying fishing tools, household items, and wedding customs of water town residents. The 'Water Stage' in the center is 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, accommodating 800 spectators, with daily performances of the live-action drama 'Yanling Team.'

3.4 Leisure Island

Covering about 100 mu (6.7 hectares), it focuses on ecological leisure. It features a 'Reed Maze' with a total length of about 2.5 kilometers and water channels 2–4 meters wide, where visitors can navigate by small boat. The 'Bird Watching Tower' on the island is 12 meters high, equipped with high-power telescopes for observing egrets, herons, cormorants, and other water birds.

3.5 Wangjiazhai Folk Village

Located in the central area of Baiyangdian, it is a natural village surrounded by water, covering about 300 mu (20 hectares). The village retains residential buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with blue brick and gray tile walls and wooden structures, featuring compact courtyard layouts that reflect the residential characteristics of northern water towns. Visitors can experience fishing life, such as casting nets and weaving reed mats.

4. Natural and Architectural Features: Ecological Wisdom and Cultural Integration

4.1 Uniqueness of the Wetland Ecosystem

The Baiyangdian wetland is a typical northern inland freshwater lake wetland, with the following ecosystem characteristics:

Reed community: Reeds are the dominant plant, covering 12,000 mu (800 hectares), with an average height of 2–3 meters, forming a natural 'green veil on water.' Reed roots are well-developed, effectively purifying water, stabilizing soil, and providing habitat for birds.
Lotus community: Lotus planting area is about 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares), with a flowering period from mid-June to late September. The main varieties are 'Pink Lotus' and 'White Lotus,' with the native 'Baiyangdian Red Lotus' having 20–30 petals and a diameter of up to 25 centimeters.
Bird habitat: The lake area hosts over 200 bird species, with summer migrants like whiskered terns and moorhens accounting for 60%, and winter migrants like whooper swans and bean geese accounting for 20%. Every spring and autumn, tens of thousands of migratory birds stop to rest and feed, creating spectacular 'bird waves.'

4.2 Water Town Architectural Features

Traditional architecture in Baiyangdian is represented by 'water town dwellings' and 'fishing wharves,' reflecting construction wisdom adapted to the wetland environment:

Residential buildings: Mostly brick-wood structures with blue brick or adobe walls, and hard or roll ridge roofs covered with green tiles or reeds. To prevent moisture and alkali, foundations are typically raised 0.5–1 meter above ground using stone strips or bricks. Courtyard layouts follow the 'one bright, two dark' pattern, with a central hall and bedrooms on both sides, and a kitchen or storage room behind the hall.
Wharves and plank roads: Wharves are mostly built with wooden piles or stone structures, ranging from 10 to 30 meters in length and 2–4 meters in width, facilitating boat docking. Plank roads are laid with wooden boards over water, connecting dwellings to main channels, and can extend for hundreds of meters.
Sluiuces and dikes: Historically, numerous sluices and dikes were built to regulate water levels and prevent floods. For example, the 'Zaolinzhuang Hub,' built in 1965, consists of 25 flood discharge sluice gates with a total length of 120 meters, and is a key project controlling the water level of Baiyangdian.

4.3 Red Heritage and Memorial Buildings

The Yanling Team Memorial Hall is the core building of Baiyangdian's red tourism, with a design that blends traditional and modern elements:

Exterior: Adopting an antique style with blue bricks and gray tiles, a hip roof, and chiwen ornaments at the ridge ends. Above the main entrance hangs a plaque reading 'Yanling Team Memorial Hall,' inscribed by Lü Zhengcao, former commander of the Central Hebei Military Region.
Interior exhibits: The exhibition hall covers about 2,600 square meters and is divided into six units, including 'Years of War,' 'Yanling Heroism,' and 'Deep Bond Between Army and People.' Among the exhibits is a wooden boat 8.5 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, used by the Yanling Team in battle, with bullet holes still visible on the hull.
Memorial sculpture: In the square in front of the hall stands a 'Yanling Team' theme sculpture, 6.5 meters high with a 3-meter-wide base, depicting team members holding 'da taigan' muskets and rowing into battle.

5. Cultural Significance: Water Town Folk Customs and Red Genes

5.1 Water Town Folk Culture

The folk culture of Baiyangdian is represented by 'fishing and hunting culture' and 'reed weaving craftsmanship':

Fishing customs: Fishermen use traditional tools such as 'lan' (a tool for clamping clams), 'banzeng' (a square net), and 'kagou' (fishing hooks). Rituals like 'Kaihe Ji' (river opening ceremony) and 'Yuwang Jie' (Fish King Festival) are still preserved. Every year on the second day of the second lunar month, 'Dragon Raises Head,' fishermen hold a 'River God Sacrifice' to pray for a bountiful harvest and safety.
Reed weaving craft: Baiyangdian reeds are tough and have fine fibers, making them high-quality materials for weaving reed mats and curtains. The craft is listed in Hebei Province's intangible cultural heritage, and products are exported to Japan, South Korea, and other countries. Traditional reed mats have a weaving density of 8–10 strands per square centimeter and a thickness of about 0.3 centimeters, offering moisture-proof and heat-insulating properties.
Food culture: Known for the 'Whole Fish Feast' and 'salted duck eggs.' The Whole Fish Feast uses fresh fish from the lake and can be prepared into over a hundred dishes, such as 'stewed crucian carp,' 'sweet and sour carp,' and 'fish scale jelly.' Baiyangdian salted duck eggs are famous for 'preserved eggs' and 'red-yolk eggs,' with bright orange yolks rich in oil.

5.2 Red Culture Inheritance

The red culture of Baiyangdian is an important part of the history of the War of Resistance:

Yanling Team spirit: The Yanling Team was established in 1939, initially with about 20 fishermen and hunters, later growing to over 100 members. They used 'da taigan' muskets (with a range of about 100 meters, loaded with iron shot and gunpowder) and wooden boats to ambush Japanese forces in the reed marshes. In 1943, the Yanling Team cooperated with the main force of the Eighth Route Army to eliminate Japanese strongholds at Zhaobeikou and Duancun, killing or wounding over 200 Japanese and puppet soldiers.
Literary and film works: Sun Li's 'Lotus Lake,' published in 1945, is set in Baiyangdian and tells the story of rural women like Shuisheng's wife supporting the war effort, becoming a representative work of the 'Lotus Lake School.' The film 'Little Soldier Zhang Ga,' adapted from Xu Guangyao's novel of the same name, features scenes of Zhang Ga outwitting Japanese soldiers, drawn from Baiyangdian's resistance stories.
Red education base: The Yanling Team Memorial Hall is listed as a National Patriotism Education Demonstration Base, receiving over 500,000 visitors annually. It features a 'Red Classroom' that uses physical exhibits and scenario reenactments to teach young people about the history of the War of Resistance.

5.3 Ecological Protection Significance

The ecological restoration project of Baiyangdian has national demonstration significance:

Water quality improvement: Through the 'Diverting Yellow River to Baiyangdian' project, about 150 million cubic meters of water are supplied annually, stabilizing the water level at 7.0–7.5 meters (Dagu elevation). Additionally, over 200 polluting enterprises have been shut down, and 12 sewage treatment plants have been built, improving water quality from inferior Class V to Class III–IV.
Biodiversity recovery: In recent years, over 30 new bird species have been recorded, including rare species like the Baer's pochard and white-naped crane. Fish resources have recovered from about 30 species in the 1990s to 54 species, and aquatic plant coverage has increased to over 40%.
Eco-tourism model: The scenic area promotes a 'low-density, high-experience' eco-tourism model, limiting daily visitor numbers (no more than 30,000 during peak season) and using electric boats instead of fuel-powered ones to reduce carbon emissions.

6. Visitor Information

6.1 Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening hours: April 1 to October 31 (peak season) 8:00–18:00; November 1 to March 31 (off-season) 9:00–17:00.
Ticket prices: Peak season adult ticket 80 yuan/person; off-season 40 yuan/person. Attractions within the scenic area (such as Lotus Grand View Garden and Cultural Garden) require separate tickets; a combined ticket costs about 200 yuan/person.
Discounts: Seniors over 60, children under 1.2 meters, active military personnel, and disabled people with valid certificates are free; students with student IDs get half price.

6.2 Transportation Guide

Self-driving: From Beijing, take the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway (G4) to the Baoding exit, then transfer to the Baoding-Cangzhou Expressway (S52) to the Baiyangdian toll station in Anxin County, about 2 hours' drive. The scenic area has a large parking lot with a fee of 10 yuan per visit.
Public transportation: Take a high-speed train from Beijing South Railway Station to Baiyangdian Station (about 1 hour), then transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus (fare 10 yuan, 30 minutes) to the dock. Alternatively, take a bus from Baoding Passenger Transport Center to Anxin County (fare 15 yuan, 1 hour).
Within the scenic area: Visitors must take a boat from the dock, with options of 'eco-friendly electric boat' (40 yuan/person) and 'manual wooden boat' (60 yuan/person, can be chartered). Boat routes are divided into 'East Line' (Lotus Grand View Garden, Cultural Garden) and 'West Line' (Mandarin Duck Island, Leisure Island), with a full journey of about 2–3 hours.

6.3 Best Time to Visit

Lotus viewing: Mid-June to late August, with mid-July being the peak blooming period with the most varieties.
Bird watching: Spring and autumn (March–April, September–October), when migratory birds pass through, offering opportunities to observe numerous water birds.
Reed viewing: September to November, when reeds turn from green to yellow, creating a spectacular 'golden reed sea.'

6.4 Notes

Safety tips: Do not approach deep water areas; children must be accompanied by adults. Wear life jackets when taking boats.
Environmental requirements: Do not litter, pick lotus flowers, or catch birds. The scenic area has classified trash bins; please help maintain the environment.
Dining and accommodation: There are several 'fishing family restaurants' in the scenic area offering specialties like Whole Fish Feast and salted duck eggs, with an average cost of 50–100 yuan per person. Accommodation options include Wangjiazhai Folk Village or hotels in Anxin County, with prices ranging from 100 to 500 yuan per night.
Special notice: July–August is the flood season, and some attractions may be temporarily closed due to rising water levels; please check the scenic area announcements in advance.