Pristine locale a short hop from modernity

Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, about 5 km from West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park is a rare urban wetland. [Photo by Qiu Guoqiang/Chen Shoucan/Raymond Zhou/China Daily]

On a recent morning, we stood on one of the bridges that span the river that separates Tianmushan Road to the south from the park and watched white egrets over the water. It was a picture out of ancient poetry, yet it shares such proximity with modern life.

Apart from an urban wetland park, Xixi preserves a rustic lifestyle and age-old traditions. It was a booming town 1,000 years ago and did not wither until the last century. The rebuilt Gao Villa was the home of calligrapher and literary man Gao Shiqi, who retired from officialdom and built his garden-style abode there in the mid-17th century. The villa gained prominence when Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) paid him a visit in 1689.

Many other writers and scholars also made their homes in Xixi, inviting friends and developing a literature-loving community. Today, the local government has invited literary and artistic luminaries to the northeastern corner of the park to build a creative industry hub.

Xixi was also the home of many farmers and fishermen, who have been relocated else-where. But their rustic and aquatic lifestyles have been preserved.

If you visit, you can see a winemaking family business, a small museum of wooden boats and a display of old wedding boudoir, among the many heritage exhibits.

And, if you are in the mood, you can also rent a dragon boat and organize your own race even when it is not the Dragon Boat Festival.

The rate to hire a boat is a bit high, but it includes training and security.