From June to July 2025, the "Birdwatching Following the Book of Songs" event at Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park officially begins. Whether you're a birdwatching enthusiast, a literary creator, or a photography lover, there's a "winged chapter" here for you.
This year's birdwatching season follows the cultural thread of writer Zhang Haihua's "Birds in the Book of Songs", for the first time pairing imagery from the ancient classic such as "ospreys", "dark birds", and "egrets" with real-life wetland inhabitants like black-faced spoonbills, dalmatian pelicans, and white egrets. Along reed-fringed shores, you'll witness the poetic scene of "green, green the reeds, white dew turns to frost"; on tidal flats where elk roam, you'll encounter the harmonious coexistence depicted in "deer call to each other, grazing on wild apples". The words of antiquity are no longer mere print but living, breathing miracles within reach.
The wetland park has created a unique waterborne birdwatching route, offering a distinctive eco-tour for bird lovers. The 20-minute journey allows close observation of rare birds like egrets during breeding, provided visitors avoid disturbing them. Professional volunteer guides accompany the route, explaining bird behaviors, species, and wetland ecology, transforming the experience into both a visual feast and an immersive science lesson.
Meanwhile, Zhang Haihua, author of "Birds in the Book of Songs", will host cultural talks at the Elk Pier birdwatching site, decoding ecological themes in classical poetry. Visitors and photography society members can join guided birdwatching and photo sessions.
This year, the wetland also introduces a parent-child ecology class during the egret breeding season. Combining birdwatching studies with kayaking, the program fosters collaborative nature education between parents and children, promoting environmental values and family bonding through the theme of "harmonious coexistence between humans and nature."
To enhance visitor engagement, the event features "professional birdwatching stations". From June 14 to July 13 (weekends only, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.), staff will guide enthusiasts and aspiring contributors to Elk Pier for expert-led sessions using specialized equipment. Participants can collect stamps at checkpoints , including the museum, Elk Pier, Water Forest, Kayak Pier, and cultural souvenir shop, to redeem cultural souvenirs.
