Xixi was a land of idyllic beauty and a place of seclusion in the eyes of ancient people. Inspired by the elegance of Xixi, many literati — including Su Dongpo, Tang Bohu, Dong Qichang and Yu Dafu — created numerous literary works about the place. Some of them are showcased on the inscribed boards and tablets dotted throughout the wetland park.

The Xixi wetland was not quite so well-known to people further afield until the famous Chinese director Feng Xiaogang used it as a backdrop for part of his 2008 film If You Are the One, adding the wetland to the list of must-visit tourist attractions in Hangzhou.

Today, the pristine scenery, the rustic charm of a country lifestyle and the ancient traditions of Xixi lure tourists from around the world.

The official data shows that, since 2005, when the park first opened to public, to the end of 2018, around 40 million people have visited the Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park, generating a revenue of nearly 2 billion yuan ($282.6 million).

However, it wasn’t always thus. Back in the 1950s, human activities, especially the establishment of nearby factories, had an adverse impact on the wetland, inflicting damage on both the culture and natural beauty of the area.