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Unlike
Hangzhou's West Lake which has an enduring
reputation among international travelers, the Xixi
wetland is young but rose to fame rapidly. Eight
years ago, the region was nothing but fish ponds and
farmlands connected by crisscrossing waterways. Then
the wetland enjoyed a sudden boom after being chosen
as one of the background settings for veteran
Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's romance film "If
You Are the One" in 2008.
Within five miles of West Lake, the park is a large
natural wetland situated inside the densely
populated city. It is nicknamed "kidney of Hangzhou"
for its pristine air and extensive green vegetation.
The wetland reduces the temperature of its
surrounding 15-square-kilometer premises by more
than a degree, a considerable contribution to the
city's eco environment.
Another reason the wetlands have been promoted is
that the local service sector has improved
considerably.
For the past two years, the park's administrative
office has implemented a series of modifications
such as the introduction of hot water to its public
toilets to larger constructions like the expansion
of a theme village where tourists can relax in a
café or visit art exhibits.
During Spring Festival season, a series of
celebrations will be held in the wetland park to
attract visitors including a lantern fair, an opera
performance and a night market. (Source:
china.org.cn)
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