Xianghai National Nature Reserve (AAAA-level scenic area)

Xianghai Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Tongyu County, Jilin Province, on the eastern border of Horqin Grassland. The total area is 105，500 hectares, which includes 23，654 hectares of marsh area, 30，396 hectares of grassland area, 12，441 hectares of water area and 29，824 hectares of forest area. It is a natural landscape-based scenic area for original swamps, lakes, birds, animals, Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, reeds, apricot forests and fishing.

Xianghai is known for its “seven laurels” : approved as a national forest and wildlife nature reserve in the 1986 by the State Council, crowned as an A-level nature reserve of international significance in 1992 by the World Wildlife Foundation, and was listed in the “International Wetland List” in the same year; included in the “Protection Network of Chinese Man and Biosphere Program” by the Chinese National Committee for Man and Biosphere Program, UNESCO in 1993; In 2005, it was certified to be a national AAAA-level tourist attraction; In 2009, selected among the top three of Jilin’s eight best tourist attractions; and in 2012, awarded as one of the first “national low-carbon tourism demonstration zones.”

There are more than 600 kinds of wild plants in the reserve and 350 kinds of vertebrates. The reserve is also home to 293 kinds of rare birds among which 10 kinds are national first-class protected ones such as red-crowned cranes, white crane, white-headed cranes, and 42 kinds are national second-class protected ones such as white-napped cranes and gray cranes. Xianghai is dubbed the hometown of cranes as it is inhabited by 6 of all the 15 kinds of cranes known in the world. There are more than 30 main attractions in Xianghai, which include Crane Island, Museum, Bird Park, Beach Bathing, Cruise Ferry, Thousands of Birds’ Nest, Xianghai Temple, Yuyangdian Lake, Mongolian elm, Windmill and Apricot Forest. Tourists can not only enjoy the original natural landscape and rare animals, but also experience Mongolian folk culture by living in a Mongolian yurt, dancing distinctive Mongolian dance and drinking the aromatic Mongolian tea.

Ticket price:

Crane Island: 40 yuan, Bird Park: 30 yuan, Museum: 20 yuan, Cruise: 50 yuan, Xianghai Temple: 5 yuan. The through tick for Crane Island, Bird Park and the Museum is 90 yuan.

Opening time:

All attractions in Xianghai are open 8: 00-18: 00 from April to October, 8: 00-16: 00 from October to the April of next year.

Parking:

The parking on the Crane Island is located 3 km southwest of the Protection Bureau, and is able to hold50 cars.

The parking lot of the Xianghai Temple is located 1 km south of the local town government, and is able to hold 100 cars.

The parking lot of the Bird Park is able to hold 30 cars.

Website: www.xianghai.org.cn

E-mail: lxp6887@126.com

Transportation: The Xianghai scenic area is 67 kilometers from Tongyu County.

Hotline of the Railway Station: 0436-6143242 Hotline of the Coach Station: 0436-4224915

Self-driving:

Set off from Changchun and drive west along the Changbai Road West Line for around 248 kilometers to Tongyu County. Turn to the north at the Southern Roundabout of Tongyu and drive straightforward for 2 kilometers until you reach the Northern Roundabout. Turn northwest to the Xianghai Road and drive for around 67 km until you reach the Xianghai scenic area.

Special tourt bus and public bus:

1. Changchun to Xianghai (Xianghai to Changchun):

Changchun to Xianghai: Departure time and place: 14:30 at Kaixuan Road Passenger Station

Xianghai to Changchun: Departure time and place: 6:30 at Xianghai Town seat

Single trip: Four hours, 75 yuan.

2. Tongyu to Xianghai (Xianghai to Tongyu):

Tongyu to Xianghai: Departure time and place: 6: 00-16: 00;

Xianghai to Tongyu, Departure time and place: 5: 30-15: 00,

Single trip: One hour, 15 yuan.