Hidden Star Wishes: Finding a Wetland by the Bustling Park

Star Wish Park: A Tranquil Universe Next to Disneyland Beyond the fireworks and laughter of Disneyland, just across the water, lies a completely different world. Exiting from Exit 3 of the Disneyland Metro Station, to the left is the crowd heading to the fairy tale kingdom; to the right, past a quiet grove of trees, you enter Star Wish Park—a wetland park covering about 40 hectares, like a long, deep breath outside the bustling symphony of Disneyland. Entrance: A Transition from Fairy Tale to Nature The name "Star Wish" is cleverly chosen—it echoes Disneyland’s theme of "wishing," yet sheds the fantasy filter to return to a more simple hope. The "Butterfly Dance" sculpture at the park’s main entrance is light and lively, but not cartoonish. I saw a father crouch down and say to his daughter, “Look, this is how real butterflies would like it.” This sentence sets the tone for the entire park: this is not a fabricated nature, but an invitation for real life to settle in. Walking into the park, the first surprise is the change in sound. The faint music from the amusement park behind quickly gives way to natural soundscapes: the rustling of cedar trees in the wind, distant calls of water birds, and the soft creak of the wooden boardwalk beneath your feet. This auditory "noise reduction" instantly calms the mind. Lakeside: One Mirror, Two Skies At the heart of the park is Star Wish Lake, a wide and clear body of water. The lake acts like an honest mirror: on the east shore, it reflects the pointed silhouette of Disneyland’s fantasy fairy tale castle; on the west shore, the real Shanghai skyline. Sitting on a bench at the "Ying" viewing platform, I watched this marvelous juxtaposition: on one side, a man-made fairy tale kingdom; on the other, a naturally nurtured ecological wetland; and the lake silently embraces both skies equally. Details: A “Mini Castle” Designed for Insects What held me the longest was the "Little Dragonfly Garden." This is not a playground but a carefully designed multi-layered wetland plant area, specially created for dragonflies, damselflies, and other insects. The information board reads: “Plants at different heights provide resting spots for different species of dragonflies; still water areas are for egg-laying; stones allow them to warm their wings in the morning sun.” A child wearing a little dragonfly telescope was lying by the water observing, while his mother softly read the sign: “Dragonfly larvae live underwater for one to five years before they emerge as adults and fly into the sky.” It turns out the real magic is not an instant transformation but a long, unseen growth. This realization moved me more than any fairy tale. Art: Nature’s Own Creation The art installations in the park carry a sense of humility. A group of sculptures called "Moonlight Stones" are scattered on the lawn, with rough surfaces that change color with the light. The designer clearly understands that here, artworks should not steal nature’s spotlight but should appear as if stones naturally growing from the earth. On the "Rainbow Bridge," I met Mr. Lu, who was sketching. He comes every week to paint the seasonal changes of the same corner. “Disneyland is about ‘dream-making,’ here we learn to ‘see,’” he said. “Look at these reeds: tender green in spring, dense in summer, golden in autumn, leaving abstract lines in winter. This is the truest color magic.” Dusk: When Two Worlds Light Up Together I stayed in the park until dusk. As the sun set, Disneyland’s lights began to glow, the castle radiating a warm orange light in the darkening sky. Almost simultaneously, the path lights on both sides of Star Wish Park quietly turned on—a soft warm white, just enough to illuminate the path without disturbing the birds returning to their nests. The most wonderful moment arrived: the first firework from Disneyland soared into the night sky, blooming brilliantly; at the same time, inside the park’s birdwatching house, several photographers held their breath capturing egrets returning home. On one side was fleeting brilliance, on the other, the endless cycle of life. Two kinds of beauty faced each other across the lake, undisturbed, yet together completing the night. Walking back to the metro station, I looked back at this tranquil green space. Disneyland’s castle shimmered crystal clear in the night, while Star Wish Park faded into deep dark green. This body of water is like a philosophical mirror: on one side reflecting our longing for miracles, on the other guarding our affection for reality. And perhaps the most beautiful journey is learning to move freely between the two, understanding in your heart—that real nature and created magic are equally precious gifts this world offers us. Visitor Tips: · Address: 1009 Shendi West Road, Pudong New Area (inside Disneyland Resort) · Opening Hours: Open all day (some facilities have specific times) · Best Time to Visit: Early morning for birdwatching, dusk to see the merging of two views · Must-See Highlights: Star Wish Lake’s dual reflections, “Little Dragonfly Garden” ecological design, seasonal changes of the cedar forest · Unique Experience: Experience the ultimate human creativity and the original beauty of nature simultaneously