Virtual navigation in Nanhaizi Park [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]

Two black swans in the Liangshui River [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]

Recently, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism launched the "Beijing Water Tour Route", with 19 routes traversing Liangshui River Park, Binhe Park, Elk Garden and Nanhaizi Park and other locations.

Ten years ago, the Liangshui River was still a stinking ditch; but now the clear water and many water birds have reappeared, and some rare water birds such as mute swans and paradoxornis heudeis have settled down. 

In 2020, the BDA section of the Liangshui River was selected as the first of 17 national water demonstration sections, becoming the only national river and lake demonstration section in Beijing.

Liangshui River Park has the largest flower beds of sunflowers and daisies in Beijing, and more than 50 sorts of ground cover flowers such as coreopsis, canna, white hosta, red day lilies, and lythrum are planted.

The river water irrigates the sea of flowers through large waterwheels and diversion channels, and finally flows to the wetland for purification, highlighting the concept of a sponge city.

Binhe Park has achieved full WiFi coverage and introduced a large number of smart devices, including smart light poles, smart trash cans, smart seats, fire protection monitoring equipment, smart toilets, pollen concentration monitoring systems, micro weather stations, and insect monitoring; it is even equipped with a water intake pumping station.

Nanhaizi Park is also the largest wetland park in Beijing and acts as a kind of green lung in the south of the city. It is home to more than 200 species of wild birds. 

When visiting Nanhaizi Park, visitors only need to download an APP with their mobile phones with which they can scan devices installed in the scenic area, read virtual location navigation signs and take advantage of public service information, promotions, multi-route embedded guidance, interactive games, and other features.

The Elk Garden is located in the core area of Nanhaizi Park. Since July 2006, it has become a leading free outdoor ecological museum open to all of the capital's citizens. 

It currently includes over one hundred wild animals such as elk, black swan, peacock, roe deer, sika deer, mallards, white storks and swans.