Jiangyangfan Park’s predecessor was a sediment accumulation site for the dredging of West Lake. After six years of stacking and exposure, the aquatic and terrestrial plant seeds that had been dormant for centuries in the West Lake sediment began to germinate, turning Jiangyangfan into a secondary wetland dominated by willows and wetland plants. In 2008, Hangzhou transformed the former sediment reservoir into a new model of West Lake Park for the 21st century. During the restoration process, the park’s cultural department did not remove any plants and preserved the vegetation intact. In the selection of supplementary plants, all native species were chosen: the intoxicatingly beautiful Coreopsis, the elegant Pennisetum, the wave-like Polygonum, the red-fruited Sambucus, and the naturally wild Cosmos, which blend harmoniously with the willows that naturally grew from the West Lake sediment.
Similar to the Xixi Wetland, it also has multi-level wetland landscapes such as wet forests, shallow marshes, and lakes and ponds, providing an environment for wildlife such as birds, fish, waterfowl, and amphibians to forage and inhabit. A particularly unique feature of the park is its two public toilets, which have no ceilings and are open to the sky. Some jokingly say that even when using the facilities, one can breathe the fresh air of nature. The park is open all year round from 8:30 to 21:00.
