Unlike Hangzhou’s West Lake, which has an enduring reputa- tion among international travelers, the Xixi wetland does not have a strong reputation but is quickly becoming well known. Eight years ago, the region was nothing but fish ponds and farmlands connected by crisscrossing waterways. Within five miles of West Lake, the park is a large, natural wetland situated inside the densely populated area of the city. It is nicknamed “the kidney of Hang- zhou” for its pristine air and extensive green vegetation. The wetland reduces the temperature of the surrounding 15 square kilometers by more than a degree, thus contributing considerably to the city’s eco-environment (see Figs