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Unlike renowned West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park is more of a mystery for many Chinese visitors.
Many of the scenes from the popular movie "If You Are the One" were filmed here where the heroine took a boat trip with her boyfriend through the Xixi waterway.
Ever since the movie debuted during this year's Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, more and more domestic visitors have been coming to Xixi.
Our guide, Lu Liang, works for the park's management office.
"Now there are many films crews coming here to take shots. Many visitors have come to look for the big houses that appear in the movie, but we tell them that they are only for lease, not for sale. We don't sell houses in Xixi."
"Now we are sitting in a boat. It is quite a pleasant to take a sightseeing cruise to appreciate the nice scenery. The beautiful scenes are like unfolding scrolls. The water surface reflects colorful plants along the bank. We can see that a handful of old buildings such as hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops stand hidden in the woods on the bank. According to the guide, more than 10 of the old bridges that used to connect the different areas of the tiny oasis still exist. The dam that was used for irrigation and as a flood sluice is preserved as a relic of early agricultural civilization."
Water is the soul of Xixi park and covers 70 percent of area. Six creeks weave through the park with numerous fish pools scattered between them.
Here is Xiao Mei, a tour guide in our boat.
"In history, this wetland park has an area of more than 60 square kilometers, but we plan to open only about 10 square kilometers to the public. Now, only eight square kilometers are open to the public. If we regard the Xixi area as a circle, it would take you more than five or six hours to walk to the center."
Xixi is a place rich with fish and shrimp. One can fish here during all the four seasons—a tradition that was retained after the park was formally established.
Xixi also has a profusion of plum trees. There are more than 3,000 plum trees, covering 200 square meters of land.
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