INTRODUCTION
Jialing River basin by constructing a green hill barrier and leveraging native natural resources. The project aimed to minimize human intervention, preserving wetlands and reintroducing native plants to areas requiring recovery. Flooding issues were addressed through culvert pipes connecting flooded lands to the river, purifying and revitalizing waterlogged areas, and attracting various migratory birds and wild fish back to the site.
As a wetlands park with a tourism function, the project also serves as an educational platform for sustainable green infrastructure. Additionally, it created jobs for local villagers and spurred economic growth in neighboring towns.
NARRATIVES
– ORIGINAL CONDITION OF THE SITE
The Fengyi Bay Wetlands Restoration Project is located in Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China, covering 659 acres. Fengyi (Feng: phoenix; Yi: demeanor) derives its name from the legend of the phoenix, believed to attract numerous birds, as encapsulated by the idiom “百鸟朝凤” (“all birds paying homage to the phoenix”). Historically, it was a critical bird habitat along the Jialing River. However, before the project began, environmental degradation had severely reduced bird populations and species. The village also faced population decline and loss of vitality due to modernization and urbanization.
The area was littered with abandoned factories, artificial ponds, straight channels, concrete roads. It featured an old concrete flood dike, often resulting in flooding and waterlogging due to low terrain and levees.
– DESIGN STRATEGY—RECOVERY
The project aimed to restore the natural environment and bird habitats, thereby revitalizing the countryside. The strategy was to “return to the original” and naturally restore the wetlands’ ecological value and the village’s original image.
– RESTORATION OF WATERS
The initial step was to address flooding by using soil to bury the old flood dike, raising its height, and forming a 40—120 meter wide “hillside” as an ecological barrier. Earthwork was sourced from nearby excavated river channels. Post-renovation, the river was reshaped to follow the terrain, creating a “flowing lake” and shallow water areas (0.3–0.5 meters deep and 5–20 meters wide) for birds to forage.
The site’s diverse water systems, including lakes, brooks, tidal flats, live ponds, and stagnant water, were interconnected. Water from the Jialing River flows upstream via culvert pipes, undergoes wetland purification, and re-enters the river, maintaining a dynamic cycle that adjusts with the seasons.
– NATIVE WETLANDS PRESERVATION AND MATERIALS COLLECTION
All the original scattered wetlands were preserved and protected with fences during construction to maintain their native conditions and species diversity. Local materials, matching the environment’s colors, were used—red sandstone, green sandstone, yellow sandstone, pebbles, tree branches, pine boards, etc. High-purity, atypical colors were avoided to ensure natural aesthetics.
– THE APPLICATION OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL GARDENING THEORY
The project adhered to the principle “though wrought out by human hands, it looks as if made by nature,” emphasizing minimal intervention. The design respected original vegetation, avoided unnecessary tree cutting or planting, and used wildflowers to blend with the natural landscape. The vast wetland area was left to grow freely, with seeds dispersed by wind and birds.
– GENEROUS REWARDS FROM NATURE
The restored wetlands seamlessly integrate with the original environment. After six years of fishing bans, 33 species of wild fish returned, and the water expanded into a lake. 58 kinds of birds, including migratory and resident species, repopulated the area, turning Fengyi Bay into a bird paradise. Notably, protected species like the black stork and tundra swan now inhabit the wetlands, fulfilling the idiom “all birds paying homage to the phoenix.”
– ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND EDUCATION IN TOURISM FUNCTION
The design minimized tourism impact on bird activities and wetland ecology. The core tourist area was placed away from bird habitats, with a 1.6km walkway around the lake and peripheral roads for electric mopeds and bikes. Tourists experience wetland beauty and learn about environmental protection through a wetland science museum and art installations. A children’s outdoor amusement park and cabin inns provide further engagement with nature.
– LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Wetlands restoration improved both the park’s ecosystem and local residents’ living quality. The park created 412 direct jobs, attracted investment for community improvements, and revitalized neighboring towns. Local businesses, homestays, markets, and agricultural product sales flourished, benefiting over 30,000 residents.
Today, Fengyi Bay is a top tourist destination and the largest, best-preserved wetland system in the Jialing River Basin. It continues to thrive and grow, reflecting the project’s success in harmonizing ecological restoration with community revitalization.
Devoloper: Sichuan Port and Shipping Investment Co., Ltd.
Location: Fengyi Bay Wetland, Jiangling Town, Gaoping District, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, China
Design year: 2014-2016
Year Completed: 2020
