In Huli,
it’s a routine to open the window and see green;
and a cure to step outside and welcome spring in.
Parks, wetlands, and trails, scattered like stars,
form a jade necklace,
stringing together the city’s soft ecological backdrop.
When Russian outdoor enthusiast Antony packs his bags
and sets foot on this lush land,
what surprises will he find?
In this episode of “Foreigners But Not Outsiders in Huli”,
follow the hiking enthusiast Antony
as he breaks into Huli’s green secret world.
Morning light spills into Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park.
A boardwalk winds across the water and into the trees.
Antony, camera bag slung over his shoulder, sets off briskly.
By the boardwalk, a little egret glides over the water,
its wings pure white, its posture graceful.
As a wildlife species protected under China’s “three-haves” categories (ecological, scientific, and social value),
egrets are extremely picky about water quality.
Its pause here is, in a way, the best score the ecosystem can give.
Antony couldn’t help but marvel:
“Meet an egret here,
and you’ll know this lake is really living right.”
As he walks to the shore,
he runs into a “Green Water Guardians” volunteer team.
He proactively joined their shore protection efforts.
The team leader demonstrates water sampling and testing on-site
and shares the park’s ecological “inventory”:
“This is the largest wetland ecological park on Xiamen Island.
Mangrove trees take root here, rare birds nest here, and life thrives in all four seasons.”
Day after day, the volunteers keep watch.
It deeply moves Antony.
He sets up his camera
and takes a picture with these adorable eco-watchers.
He slows down for a breather.
Second stop—Qiaodun Sports Park in Wuyuan Bay.
Right here,
Antony personally tests Huli’s “20-minute park rule.”
On one side: the sea-crossing bridge and endless blue waves.
On the other: soft lawns and sports fields.
With the sea breeze on his face, he runs a few rounds, then just zones out.
Fatigue washes off in an instant.
After leaving the open coastal area,
Antony heads into Zhonglun Park,
the city’s “natural oxygen bar.”
Lush greenery, fresh scents in the air,
he finds himself stepping into a wild, hidden realm.
He slows his pace, takes a deep breath,
and says, “Here, even time seems to slow down.”
Deep in the woods,
a large-leaved fig tree spreads its canopy wide.
Branches and leaves are thick, casting a dense, cool green.
This is a classic Minnan native tree species
and the most generous sunshade in summer.
Raising his binoculars, Antony holds his breath and searches.
And then—he unexpectedly spotted the “most beautiful bird in China”, the blue-tailed bee-eater.
As a national second-class protected wild animal,
they flock to Wuyuan Bay every summer to breed.
They are Huli’s “limited-edition ecological surprise.”
He happily pressed the shutter,
preserving this vibrant feathered beauty forever.
As the sky blushes with sunset clouds,
evening breeze, insect songs, and fish gliding through the water
bring the full day of hiking to a close.
Looking back on this patch of green, he sincerely says,
“Huli’s nature isn’t a distant landscape; it’s a tangible part of life.”
Greenways connect wetlands, parks, and people.
Green from the window, beauty at the doorstep.
Here, every blade of grass holds a story,
and every bird and vista touches the heart.
This is the most vivid footnote to Huli’s ecological efforts.
