Fuzhou Artificial Wetland 浮洲人工濕地

Paths meander through the Fuzhou Artificial Wetland

 Fuzhou Artificial Wetland is a tranquil 40 hectare park with abundant bird and aquatic life on the Dahan River. There are two main paths leading through the park as well as some side paths and numerous ponds. Wetlands process wastewater, provide crucial habitat for birds and other animals and serve as a buffer in the case of extreme climatic events. The Fuzhou Artificial Wetland treats 30,000 tons of wastewater per day.

Distance/Time:  4.ll km/ About an hour. I also rode a bike to the wetland from my apartment which added about 20 kilometers of cycling along the riverside path.

Trail Conditions: This is an easy walk though actually I rode a Ubike slowly most of the time, stopping frequently to view the ponds. Some parts of the path were muddy because it had rained a lot in the previous days. There are two wide dirt paths and later a paved path as well as some unofficial paths that usually lead to fishing spots or good places to view the ponds.

What to take: Nothing special is needed. 

Transportation: Public transportation was a little challenging at first. The brochure about the park had incorrect transportation information. It said to take the MRT to Fuzhong station and then take bus 841. As far as I can tell this bus does not exist. I tried taking a Ubike from the MRT station to the park but reached a bridge with no bike lane and decided to turn back. 

A couple of days later I was at home and looking at the map realized the park was only about an hour's bike ride from where I live. So I rode a Ubike from my apartment to the park which turned out to be easy and a nice ride.

 It is very close to the Fuzhou Train station. So taking a train might be a good option or just taking the MRT to Fuzhong MRT Station and then a taxi. 

The walk/bike ride: 

 I think that urban wet lands are a fascinating example of how constructed human environments interact with the natural environment. Back in December I did a similar walk near the Guandu Nature Park and bird sanctuary: 

https://taiwanhikingjournal.blogspot.com/2021/11/guandu-nature-park-and-guandu-temple_21.html

Somewhere I had picked up a brochure about the Fuzhou Artificial Wetland and since then had been looking for an opportunity to visit. 

 When I saw this sign I knew I was at the right place since they were the same frogs that were on the brochure.

The main entrance to the park

 

You can take any path through the park. Its a great place for taking your time and following your steps wherever they lead. 

First, I took a narrow grassy path which I guessed was an unofficial trail. It led to a view of the Dahan River. 

 There were two wide paths going into the park and I took the second one and returned by the first. 

It was a slightly rainy, overcast day during Chinese New Year and I did not see many other visitors but I did see a few people fishing and a few other people cycling. It seems fishing with a rod is permitted but there were signs prohibiting net fishing. 

I stopped often to look at birds and the ponds. The lotus ponds were not in bloom but seeing the leaves covering every surface of some ponds I can only imagine what they look like when in bloom.  

One of the lotus ponds. I definitely plan to return to see the them in bloom.

Later the path was a little more narrow and muddy. Cycling slowly was no problem and I was not in a hurry in any case. 

The muddy path joined a paved path and then emerged near Fuzhou Bridge. 

I went a little further and came to a dog park and a huge open grassy area but after a quick loop around this area I went back into the wetlands park and went back to the start by a different path. 

This is definitely a park worth visiting. I look forward to going back again in the early morning when the birds will be more active and of course want to return when the lotus flowers are in bloom. 

Google maps address and map:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%B5%AE%E6%B4%B2%E4%BA%BA%E5%B7%A5%E6%BF%95%E5%9C%B0/@25.0002533,121.4390826,16.04z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x34681d532718bf13:0xc792562c1380d655!2sFuzhou+Station!8m2!3d25.004192!4d121.444737!3m4!1s0x34681d4e8c9c968b:0x539b2eb56340bc94!8m2!3d24.9998304!4d121.4386032

https://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MjE4MzI4MjY=

 

 

Guandu Nature Park and Guandu Temple

The Moon Pond at Guandu Nature Park

A walk around the Guandu Nature Park and Guandu Temple. The Guandu Nature Park sits on the edge of the 55 hectare Guandu Nature Reserve which is an important wetlands habitat for many birds and other animals. The colorful Guandu Temple was built in 1661. It is dedicated to the goddess Matzu but there is also a chapel with a statue of thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Guanyin. The temple is built into a hillside and on top there are quiet stone paths, gardens and great views of the river and wetlands.

Distance/Time:  6.41 km/ 2hours 16 minutes.

Trail Conditions: This is an urban walk. The entire route is easy to walk. But don't let its proximity to the city put you off. The Guandu Nature Preserve is teeming with life. Just in the short time I was there I spotted birds, fish, crabs, frogs and even water buffalo. And the large temple is a unique and worth exploring.

 What to take: Nothing special is necessary. There are plenty of places to buy food and drinks. A good pair of binoculars would be great to have at the nature park. The entrance fee for the park is $60 for adults but there was a discount so I only paid $30. Maybe the discount was because they were doing some renovations when I visited.

Transportation: I took the MRT to Guandu Station on the red line and took exit 1 to Dadu Road.  

On the way home I rode a Ubike which was about a 12 km bike ride. There are Ubike stations outside the nature park and the temple.

  The walk: 

I have not had much time for hiking lately because of lots of weekend work and also because I am moving to a new apartment. But early Sunday morning I got out for a short but really enjoyable urban walk. 

Outside exit 1 of the MRT Station I turned right and then took a slight left into an alley between a Starbucks and a brunch place. 

At the end of the alley there is major road with an elevated roadway passing overhead. At first I made the mistake of turning left before the elevated roadway but its hard to cross the road here. Its better and safer to pass under the elevated road and turn left along a shady sidewalk passing by apartment buildings. 

I walked one block and then turned right onto Guandu Road. A short distance down this road is the entrance to the Guandu Nature Park on the left. I paid the entrance fee and went in.

 Its a nice park with both wide and narrow shady paths, ponds and patches of grass. Any route can be taken through the park but I walked to the end of the park via the wide, main path and then returned by smaller paths that are close to the edge of the wetlands. 

The two story Nature Center was closed for renovation. It usually has exhibits about local wildlife, a gift shop and--on the second floor-- mounted binoculars for watching birds through huge windows that look over the wetlands. It is scheduled to reopen in January of 2022. 

On the return path there were three bird watching cabins with small windows looking over the wetlands. Even without binoculars I could see lots of birds and also saw three water buffalo grazing. The park keeps six water buffaloes. Their natural grazing and wallowing habits are beneficial to the wetlands.

a view from one of the bird watching cabins

Inside a bird watching cabin

I returned to the entrance along smaller paths.

Outside the entrance I went left and at the end of the street right onto Zhi Xing Road. At the end of the road I could see the ornate roof of Guandu Temple. 

At the end of the the road, the temple is on the right. To the left is the entrance to the Guandu Bikeway which goes between the river and the wet lands. There are blinds for bird watching and some cafes along the bike way. 

I walked past the temple food stalls until I came to a wide plaza and a Ubike station on the left and a large temple entrance on the right. I crossed the street and went in. 

I think this is actually a back entrance. The main temple entrance is on the other side. 

I went through a cave like tunnel that cut through the hill and came out to a courtyard with a fountain near the main entrance. 

Next to the tunnel that I took is another which cuts back through the hill and comes to the chapel for Guanyin. There is an alcove with a statue of the thousand-eyed, thousand-limbed goddess. 

From the courtyard I climbed up the stairs that lead to the top of the hill. The temple was lively and noisy but the higher I got on the hillside the more quiet and peaceful it was. On top of the hill there are lots of stone paths with gardens, stone tables and benches, and there are great views of the river, wetlands and surrounding area. 

Guandu Bridge seen from the top of the temple hill

a perfect spot for taking in the view

 I wandered around the paths for a while but I had promised to be home by 12 so it was time to go. 

I wanted to bike home but there were no bikes at the Ubike station near the temple. So I walked back to the Ubike station outside the nature park where there were plenty of bikes. 

GPS and Map:

Guandu Nature Park: 25.119415, 121.46932 

Guandu Temple: 25.117739, 121.464004

https://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MjEzODA1Mzc=