Comprised of nine plant ponds and 18 plant beds, the wetland grows floating plants, such as duckweeds and water lilies, and submerged plants, such as cedar moss and hydrilla. Here, the water undergoes oxidization and sterilization, before passing through cobblestones to a fountain. As visitors step on it, the now-clean water comes out from the ground. 

Nature’s Laboratory

The amount of water processed by the original Chengdu Living Water Park is nowhere near enough to improve the city’s river water quality. Rather, its purpose is to act as a living environmental education center, spreading an environmentally-conscious message.

The fully-functioning water treatment plant boasts a splendid environment. It is well populated by rare birds and insects, as well as verdant ferns. At the foot of one slope, a board reads: “Watch out for Snakes.” This creature is obviously rarely seen in the downtown of a major city.

Water from Chengdu’s Jinjiang River flows through the park, where it is carefully purified, before returning to the river once more. Over time, Chengdu’s living water garden, with its advanced technologies and natural processes, has become the most popular park in the city. It has been added to the national tourism registry.

Changes to Jinjiang River

Jinjiang River, also called Funan River, is actually the name for two rivers — Fuhe and Nanhe which cross downtown Chengdu. However, the river, which once brought the city vigor and vitality, turned into a foul gutter during the 1980s. The city’s emphasis on rapid modernization caused the waters to become polluted with industrial chemicals and household garbage. Residents could no longer swim, catch fish, or wash their vegetables in the river. Such activities began to exist only in the memories of more senior Chengdu natives.

Sichuan’s history suggests a strong bond between locals and their natural surroundings, evidenced by the 2,000-year-old Dujiangyan Project. This connection has been re-affirmed with the construction of the Living Water Park, which has proved successful as an environmental education center, a refuge for wildlife and plants, and a wonderful place for locals to relax.

“The living water park shows the way for city planning officials to progress to sustainable urban development,” says Fang Lei, vice director of the Chengdu Living Water Park at the Shanghai Expo. “The park is included in the UBPA, and we hope more city planners can learn something from the project. We hope more cities’ water management and urban planning can fit with the theme of ‘Better City, Better Life.’”