Research was conducted in the Xixi Wetland as a case study. The
Xixi Wetland very much typifies the natural tourist attractions in
the southern part of China and is the first and only national urban
wetland in China to receive five A grades for tourist attractions as
awarded by the China National Tourism Administration in 2011.
Covering an area of 10.64 square kilometers, the wetland is densely
crisscrossed with six main watercourses and blanketed with ponds,
lakes and swamps and is located in the western part of Hangzhou,
the capital of Zhejiang Province. As the wetland is situated on the
brink of the city center of Hangzhou, it is more significant for the
wetland to be chosen to develop an evaluation index system for
a low-carbon tourist attraction as a case study. The area has
a history of more than 1800 years and is famous for its cultural
activities, which include traditional dragon boat contests, silkworm
feeding and silk production.