[2024 Kunming Attraction] Travel Guide for Xihua Wetland Park (Updated Nov)
Wetlands
Address:
East side of Xihua Toll Station, Xishan District, Kunming City
Opening times:
Open all dayOpen
Recommended sightseeing time:
2 hours
Winter in Kunming is colorful.
Kunming Xihua Wetland Park is located on the west bank of Dianchi Lake, in the middle of Gaohai Highway, at the foot of Guanyin Mountain. The park retains the simple style of nature, with layers of reeds, winding boardwalks, beautiful lakes and mountains, and rippling waves. The park has rich vegetation and different scenery in each season. In spring, flowers bloom; in summer, trees provide shade; in autumn, leaves turn golden; and in winter, green plants remain.
Photography tips for Metasequoia and Dianchi Lake:
- Time:
- Morning: The light is soft and the air is fresh in the morning. The metasequoia forest is more colorful in the morning light, and the surface of Dianchi Lake is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the beautiful scenery. If you're lucky, you can capture the scene of water birds foraging and playing on the surface of Dianchi Lake, adding vitality and dynamism to the photos of metasequoia and Dianchi Lake.
- Evening: In the evening, the sun sets, the sky is dyed orange-red, and the metasequoia forest presents a unique silhouette effect in the backlight, which complements the sparkling Dianchi Lake, creating a very beautiful picture. Moreover, the light angle is lower at this time, which can create a warm and romantic atmosphere, suitable for taking artistic photos.
- Shooting angle:
- Low angle: You can choose to squat on the ground or lie on the boardwalk to shoot metasequoia from a low angle. This can highlight the tall and straight metasequoia, while using Dianchi Lake as the background to show the interaction between metasequoia and Dianchi Lake. For example, shoot the reflection of metasequoia trunks and branches on the surface of Dianchi Lake to add layers and artistic sense to the photos.
- Upward shot: Shoot metasequoia from bottom to top to show the towering metasequoia, while making the sky the background, making the picture more concise and atmospheric. When shooting upward, you can choose a piece of metasequoia forest as the subject, or use a single metasequoia as the main subject to highlight its shape and texture.
- Overhead shot: If possible, you can climb the observation deck in the park or a nearby high place to overlook the metasequoia forest and Dianchi Lake. This way, you can capture the overall layout of the metasequoia forest and the full view of Dianchi Lake, showing the magnificence and beauty of nature.
ZoeyRodriguez_26
Kunming's surrounding area offers a delightful self-guided tour to the lesser-known Xihua Wetland Park, which is incredibly beautiful!
🚌Transportation: Take bus route C26 (from Liangjiahe Bus Yard to Haikou Town, operating from 6:30 to 19:00, with a fare of 10 yuan)
Xihua Wetland Park
I've just discovered this hidden gem of a scenic wetland park, and it's definitely worth a visit👍. Wait for bus C26 at the entrance of Guanyinshan Village and get off at Xihua Street. Ask the locals, enter through the iron gate on the roadside, cross the bridge, and after a few minutes' walk, you'll see it!!
When we went there, it was a weekday and it was drizzling, so there was no one else around. It was truly an exhilarating yet soothing experience, highly recommended❗ To return to Kunming, just wait for bus C26 by the roadside. During busy times, there's a bus every 10 minutes or so.