Winter scenery at Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou. [Photo/VCG]

The revised Zhejiang Provincial Wetland Protection Regulation took effect on Feb 2, coinciding with the 30th World Wetlands Day.

Water is deeply woven into Zhejiang's geography and culture. Nine of the province's 11 cities are named after rivers or waterways, and wetlands make up nearly 10 percent of its total land area. Unlike the vast, sparsely populated wetlands found elsewhere, many of Zhejiang's wetlands coexist in close harmony with urban life.

A prime example is Xixi National Wetland Park, which integrates urban space, farming heritage, and cultural preservation within Hangzhou's downtown area, striking a balance between protection and public use.

Along the coast, the Nanji Islands International Wetland encompasses 83 islands and reefs, along with intertidal zones and surrounding waters. The area is home to about 15 percent of China's shellfish species and 25 percent of its large benthic algae species.

Zhejiang became the first province in China to introduce a wetland protection regulation in 2012. More than a decade later, the latest revision aims to align with broader goals for building a more ecologically advanced Zhejiang and to establish a more comprehensive, science-based legal framework for wetland conservation.

To date, the province is home to two international wetland cities, 13 national wetland parks, two wetlands of international importance, four nationally designated wetlands, and 94 provincially designated wetlands.