Xixi Wetland Family Loop — Underwater Corridor to Jiangcun Hike

Enter through Xixi Wetland North Gate on Wener West Road. From the gate, follow Fudi (Blessing Causeway) south for approximately 800 metres through a shaded tree-lined path. The first major stop is the large open lawn (大草坪), one of the best picnic and kite-flying spots in the free wetland area. The lawn is spacious and well-maintained, with enough room for running and ball games. There is no shade on the lawn itself — set up a picnic blanket near the tree line or bring a sun shelter. If you plan to have a picnic here, arrive early (before 10:00 am) to claim a good spot. Public toilets are available near the lawn.

Photo suggestion: The large lawn at Xixi Wetland — a spacious green area perfect for family picnics and kite flying.

Continue south past the lawn onto Lü Di (绿堤 / Scenic Embankment), a flat paved causeway lined with seasonal flowers — plum blossoms in spring, water lilies in summer. Walk past the Pink Arch (粉色拱门), a decorative archway at the Xihu Marriage Registry that makes a fun photo backdrop, and the Water Lily Pond (睡莲池) where pink, white, and purple lilies bloom from June to August. The main attraction is the Underwater Ecological Sightseeing Corridor (水下生态观光长廊), a 137-metre glass-walled walkway set into a channel. Enter the corridor and look down: carp, koi, tadpoles, and water plants are visible through the transparent acrylic panels that form the walkway floor and side walls. The fish swim directly beneath your feet — children find this mesmerising. The corridor is free to enter, open 9:00–17:00. Note: the entrance has a few steps — strollers need to be carried through these 3–4 steps. The corridor is one-way: enter at the south end and exit at the north.

Caution: The underwater corridor has steps at the entrance — strollers must be carried through. The glass panels are safe but can be slippery when wet.

Photo suggestion: The Underwater Corridor — 137 metres of glass-walled walkway with fish swimming directly beneath your feet.

Exit the underwater corridor and follow the channel north-west for approximately 700 metres toward Hezhu Street. Along this section, the wetland channels have several accessible shallow-water edges where the water depth is 20–40 cm — safe areas where children can try dip-netting with a small net and bucket. Common catches include small minnows (麦穗鱼), tadpoles (蝌蚪), and occasional tiny shrimp. This is not a formal attraction but a natural feature of the wetland — look for gently sloping banks where the reeds open up. Practice catch-and-release: observe for a few minutes, then return the creatures to the water. The path here is a mix of boardwalk and packed earth, partly shaded by willow and metasequoia trees. Bring waterproof sandals or water shoes for children who want to wade at the very edge.

Caution: Children must be supervised at all times near water. The channels are up to 2 metres deep just a few feet from the bank. Only allow wading where the slope is gentle and water is clearly shallow.

Photo suggestion: Shallow wetland channel where children can try net fishing for minnows and tadpoles.

The path ends at Hezhu Street (河渚街), Xixi Wetland's main food street. The iconic white wall with '西溪且留下' (Xixi, stay awhile) calligraphy is just steps away. Food options: scallion pancake rolls (葱包烩, 10 RMB for 2), baked rice cakes (定胜糕, 15 RMB), Yang's Pastry (杨先生糕点文化体验馆) for traditional cakes and gifts. For a sit-down meal, continue to Jiangcun Slow Life Block (蒋村慢生活街区) — waterside restaurants serving Hangzhou home-style dishes. After lunch, walk 5 minutes north to Xixi Wetland North Metro (Line 19) to depart.

Photo suggestion: Hezhu Street food stalls with scallion pancake rolls and baked rice cakes — the perfect finish for a family day out.