Island Life

A bridge makes walking through the park in Xisha a joy. [Photo by zhou zuwei and xu xiaomin/shanghai star]

Traveling in Chongming is different from many other destinations in China. There are no famous towers or century-old pavilions to photograph, and you will not find yourself competing with the tourists who crowd most scenic spots. But what Chongming lacks in notable destinations, it more than makes up for in its untouched natural beauty.

The island has several large wetland parks, including Dongtan wetland on the east point. Dongtan wetland is the biggest and best preserved original wetland in the mouth of Yangtze River area and is a major resting place for migrating birds. Spring and fall are the best seasons to watch bird migration. Despite not being a passionate bird lover, I found it lots of fun to watch birds walking on the beach, although I stood at a distance - up close the smell is unbearable. On the west side of the island, there is another big wetland park, Xisha which is preferable to Dongtan as it has fewer visitors. Connected by wooden bridges and passages, the park is like a building on a lake where all trees and grass spring from the water after a big storm. Walking through it feels like searching for unknown treasure in a fairyland.

Many visitors are interested in catching small crabs from the water with a long stick, luring the creatures with a piece of fat. Actually, the park doesn't allow such activities as it might influence the aquatic environmental balance.

The island is a great place for animals, and the creatures enjoy better living conditions than their counterparts in downtown Shanghai. In Mingzhuhu park, that neighbors Xisha, wild ducks and geese walk freely on the grasslands and swim in the lake.

In the resort we are staying, several cute goats approach the humans, melting our hearts with their tender and affectionate eyes, begging us to feed them with fresh grass. Every morning, they receive a cart of assorted grass and plants. They live in a separate garden and are just beginning to grow horns.