Panjin coastal paradise of scenes and delicacies

Beautuful scenes of the red wetland in Panjin.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The stunning weed-blanketed mud flats, covering an area of 6,667 hectares, is growing closer to Bohai Bay at the rate of 50 meters every year. The park also boasts the world's largest reed marsh that produces 500,000 tons of raw materials for papermaking a year.

A wooden bridge allows visitors to meander into the heart of the thick red carpet of red weed. Boats are also available for a slow sail across this temporary sea of red.

Besides the vast expanse of red wetland, the park is also the temporary home for numerous migratory birds, including a number of rare species such as the red-crowned crane.

Flocks of birds arrive and leave the preserve in search of warmer climates from spring to autumn.

A museum and a zoo have been built recently allowing visitors to learn more about the wildlife and ecosystem of the wetland. The park administration also offers activities to enrich the stay of tourists, such as horse riding and a kart-racing track for children.

About 50 kilometers to the north at the Hujia township of Panshan county there is the highly-sought delicacy of the season－hairy crabs.

Lyrics in a folk song widely sung in Panjin in the 1960s said crabs even climbed into people's beds, which may sound exaggerated but reflects the fact crab were so abundant in the area. Farmers processed the crabmeat into a special tofu or paste. Nowadays, crab farming has bought prosperity for more and more local households.