With its beautiful peony lotus flowers in summer, Jinshan Qingshui Wetland (清水濕地) is a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Located in Jinshan District, New Taipei City, it is the largest wetland on the North Coast, covering an area of about 80 hectares (198 acres) in northern Taiwan.
For more interesting images of the magnificent Jinshan Qingshui Wetland, please watch the following video.
The history of Jinshan Qingshui Wetland
Jinshan Qingshui Wetland is a plain formed by the confluence of the Qingshui River (清水溪), the Xishi River (西勢溪), and the Huang River (磺溪). It used to be rice fields, but with the low price of rice and the rising cost of cultivation, many farmers began to plant water bamboo shoots, taro, or peony lotuses in the early 1980s. By the 1990s, much of the plain lay fallow, and about two-thirds of the rice fields had been reclaimed.
Full of water and close to the mountains, Qingshui Wetland is the only large coastal plain along the migratory bird route on the north coast. It has long been the first stop for wintering birds migrating south to the right flank of Taiwan, and the last stop for those returning north in spring. For this reason, it was officially named Jinshan Qingshui Wetland in 2007.
Sponsored by the New Taipei City Government, the Taiwan Ecological Engineering Development Foundation (台灣生態工法基金會), a non-governmental environmental group, launched the Jinshan Initiative (金山倡議) in 2016. The objective of this initiative is to promote a balance among ecology, economy, and eco-community so that people can coexist and thrive with the land, animals, and plants.
Today, with its fertile soil and abundance of water, Jinshan District is not only a popular destination for lotus flower appreciation and bird watching, but it is also home to sweet potatoes and water bamboo shoots.
Peony lotus flower fields in Jinshan Qingshui Wetland
Jinshan Qingshui Wetland has about 4 hectares (9.9 acres) of lotus fields owned by three farmers. The lotus flowers planted in this wetland are mainly peony lotus flowers introduced from Thailand.
The peony lotus flowers in Jinshan Qingshui wetland possess mesmerizing characteristics that make them a sight to behold. These enchanting flowers exhibit vibrant hues of pink, red, and white, creating a picturesque landscape against the backdrop of mountains and lush vegetation
The most distinctive feature of the lotus here is that it has several layers of dense protective petals that do not close after flowering. The large and layered petals exude elegance and grace, resembling delicate silk. Its shape is like a peony, but the rest of the flower is like a normal lotus flower.
The color of the peony lotus flower is white with a red edge that turns red when exposed to sunlight. The remarkable peony lotus flower consistently follows the path of the sun across the sky. In the morning, it turns gracefully to the east to catch the first rays of sunlight, while during the midday hours, the flower tends to point straight up.
Blooming in the serene environment of the wetland, these flowers not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area, but they also contribute to the overall biodiversity, making them an enchanting highlight of the Jinshan Qingshui Wetland.
The unexpected appearance of a Siberian crane
In 2014, a juvenile Siberian white crane accidentally appeared in the Jinshan Qingshui Wetland during its migration. The Siberian crane is a critically endangered species with only 3,500~4,000 left in the world. As it was the first time the endangered species had landed in the area, the lotus fields immediately attracted a lot of attention.
After news of the unexpected guest spread widely, birdwatchers, nature lovers, and conservationists flocked to catch a glimpse of this magnificent visitor. By the time the Siberian crane left Taiwan in June 2016, it had forged an intimate connection with the lotus-filled wetland, leaving an indelible impression on those who witnessed this unique encounter.
It has also become a rallying point for environmental awareness and conservation in the wetland. Local authorities, in collaboration with non-profit organizations, have redoubled their efforts to protect and preserve the wetland’s fragile ecosystem. Educational programs have also been implemented to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and the need to preserve them for future generations.
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