On Dec 10, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated the IUCN Green List. Eleven Chinese nature reserves, including Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park, were selected.

The Chinese nature reserves listed are Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park, Hunan Huping Mountain National Nature Reserve, Huangguoshu Scenic Spot, Jilin Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi Changqing National Nature Reserve, Qianjiang River Source National Park, Longwan Group National Forest Park, Hubei Qisistershan National Nature Reserve, Shennongjia National Park, Hunan Badagongshan National Nature Reserve and Inner Mongolia Daxinganling Khanma National Nature Reserve.

The total area of the Haizhu National Wetland Park is about 16,500 mu (1,100 hectares), which is equivalent to three New York Central Parks or four London Hyde Parks. In 2015 it became the first national wetland park in Guangzhou and the only national key construction wetland park in Guangdong province.

There are about 40 river gorges in the Haizhu National Wetland Park, with a water volume of about two million cubic meters. With the help of natural tides, the water can be replaced naturally every two days, thus creating a palletized fruit forest wetland with Lingnan characteristics. Added to it are 32.3 kilometers of various characteristic trails such as science paths, hiking trails and jogging trails. As of August 2022, there were 835 species of plants, 187 species of birds, 738 species of insects, and 60 species of fish distributed in the park. 

Haizhu National Wetland Park. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]