Hangzhou's wetland legacy goes global
Hangzhou was recognized as an international wetland city at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Zimbabwe on July 24 — making Hangzhou and Wenzhou the first cities in Zhejiang province to receive this global honor.
The recognition follows a five-year journey that reflects Hangzhou's commitment to wetland protection and its evolution into a model for balancing ecological conservation with urban development.
Legacy of water, culture
Hangzhou's relationship with wetlands traces back over 5,000 years to the Liangzhu Civilization, one of the earliest rice-growing societies in the world. The city's rich history — from Venetian explorer Marco Polo's praises of its water-linked beauty to classical poetry — reflects a deep bond between wetlands and urban life.
Today, wetlands cover 134,300 hectares, representing 8 percent of Hangzhou's land area and making it one of China's most water-abundant cities. It's also home to China's only national-level Wetland Museum.
Smart, science-based conservation
Faced with shrinking wetlands due to urbanization, Hangzhou has launched innovative protection programs.
At Xixi Wetland, digital twin and IoT technologies enable real-time ecological monitoring — making Hangzhou a national pilot for digital wetland governance. In Fuyang district's Yangbei Lake, sponge-city techniques restored 30 hectares of wetland. In Xiaoshan district's Xianghu Lake, submerged vegetation has improved water clarity from 0.5 meters to over 1.2 meters.
Legally, Hangzhou enacted a wetland protection ordinance and launched Zhejiang's first municipal wetland association in 2024, granting ecological compensation annually for protected wetlands.
Ecology driving the economy
Wetlands preservation there has also become a green growth engine.
Xixi Wetland pioneered a park-oriented development model — blending eco-tourism, research, living and entrepreneurship. Eco-tourism in Qingshan Lake Wetland now attracts over 200,000 visitors yearly, boosting local incomes by over 10,000 yuan ($1,395) per resident. "Wetland +" initiatives — such as eco-agriculture, rural B&Bs and e-commerce — are thriving in the surrounding areas.
Global recognition, local commitment
Its new title aligns with Hangzhou's hosting of the 5th World Biosphere Reserve Conference in September. As a biodiversity hub, wetlands are vital to species protection and climate resilience. Hangzhou's leadership is said to provide a Chinese solution to global ecological challenges.
With its wetlands now internationally acclaimed, Hangzhou continues to write a modern ecological success story — where nature and city flourish side by side.
play
