Tumuji National Nature Reserve

Tumuji National Nature Reserve

Tumuji National Nature Reserve is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a national nature reserve.

Tumuji National Nature Reserve was initially established as a banner-level nature reserve in 1996, upgraded to an autonomous region-level nature reserve in February 1998, and is the first nature reserve primarily aimed at protecting the breeding grounds of the great bustard. On July 2, 2002, it was approved by the State Council as a national-level nature reserve. It is located in Tumuji Town, in the southern part of Jalaid Banner, at the junction of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in eastern Inner Mongolia... The reserve is 50 kilometers from the banner government seat in Yende Town, 140 kilometers from Qiqihar City in Heilongjiang Province, and 115 kilometers from Ulanhot City. Covering a total area of 948.3 square kilometers, it includes 53.6 square kilometers of water bodies, 220.6 square kilometers of marshland, and 368.9 square kilometers of grassland. Situated in the transitional zone between the Greater Khingan Mountains and the Songnen Plain, it is also the transition area between China’s temperate grasslands and arid grasslands. The transitional characteristics of its geology, landforms, and vegetation give it a unique geographical landscape.

The Tumuji Nature Reserve is divided into three functional zones: The first is the core zone, which features typical grassland and marshland ecosystems, especially habitats and breeding grounds for nationally protected species of both Class I and II. The second is the buffer zone, located around the core zone, serving as a buffer and barrier for the core area. The third is the experimental zone, situated outside the buffer zone, where the Reserve Administration, wildlife rescue and domestication centers, education centers, and various experimental production bases are located.

The reserve is home to 309 species across 71 animal families. Among them are 228 bird species, including nine rare species under national Class I protection such as the great bustard, red-crowned crane, and golden eagle, as well as 36 species under national Class II protection. There are six species of cranes alone distributed within the reserve, making it one of the areas in China with the highest concentration of cranes and one of the few remaining breeding grounds for the great bustard, earning it the title "Hometown of the Great Bustard." The reserve is a paradise for birds. The vast open waters and extensive marshlands in the southeast of the reserve have created large shallow grassland areas and expansive deep grass zones, with thousands of acres of swaying cattails and endless reed marshes, providing ample and convenient feeding conditions for numerous bird species, as well as undisturbed habitats for nesting and breeding. They appear in pairs or flocks, sometimes gliding gracefully over the water, sometimes gathering densely in the blue sky, forming a magnificent and serene picture of birds against the blue sky and water. Every spring and autumn, thousands of migratory waterbirds stop here.

There are four uniquely featured tourist attractions within the Tumuji Nature Reserve:

(1) Bairin Lake Tourist Resort: Located in the northwest of the Tumuji Nature Reserve, surrounded by mountains on three sides and fed by a single water source, the lake covers an area of 2,000 hectares, with a water storage capacity of 70 million cubic meters, a maximum depth of 17 meters, and an average depth of 7 meters. The lake is stocked with fish species such as carp, silver carp, whitebait, grass carp, Wuchang bream, and fryhead fish, yielding an annual catch of 175,000 kilograms of fresh fish, with an output value exceeding one million yuan. To the east of Bairin Lake lies Hadashan Mountain, at the foot of which are attractions such as a lakeside pavilion, floating restaurant, Mongolian yurts, and a horse racing field. The lake area offers swimming zones, boating areas, and fishing spots. The Bairin Lake Resort can accommodate 200 diners at once and hosts up to 80 overnight guests daily. Climbing Hadashan and looking into the distance, you’ll see the vast grasslands to the east, lush and flowery, with herds of cattle and sheep; to the west, the shimmering waves stretch as far as the eye can see, with frequent boat traffic—truly a “pearl on the grassland.” Coupled with the lakeside holiday village and the Mongolian yurt encampment, it becomes a perfect place for travelers to enjoy the natural scenery, expansive green fields, and experience ethnic culture.

(2) Wildlife Rescue Center: In the spring of 2003, an animal breeding and rescue center was built with an investment of over 200,000 yuan. Currently, it artificially incubates and raises more than ten species of birds, including the great bustard, red-crowned crane, and golden eagle. Infrastructure such as telescopes and domestication areas is fully equipped. Fourteen species of rescued birds, totaling 46 individuals, are under care. Over the years, through rescue, breeding, and wild training, over 40 birds such as grey herons and spotted-billed ducks have been released back into the wild. A harmonious world of “sharing the sky and home between humans and birds” has been created.

(3) Natural Museum: This year, the Tumuji Nature Reserve invested over 790,000 yuan to build a new natural museum covering an area of more than 380 square meters, displaying over 150 species of plant and animal specimens. This museum is dedicated to integrating “specimen collection, science education, scientific research, and sightseeing entertainment,” using high-tech audio, light, and electrical techniques to simulate the living conditions of birds and animals in nature. It strives to recreate the original appearance of the Tumuji grassland and wetland ecosystems, building a bridge of communication between humans and nature, and opening a window into the reserve’s rich ecological resources.

The exhibition is divided into a lobby, an audiovisual hall, and an ecological hall, with the ecological hall featuring photography exhibits, mammal exhibits, and bird exhibits.

(4) Tumuji Reservoir: Located in the eastern part of the Tumuji Nature Reserve, the reservoir has a capacity of 99 million cubic meters, a dam height of 3.2 meters, and a length of 2,880 meters. It is abundant in aquatic products such as fish, shrimp, and reeds, and is home to the breeding and habitat of many rare bird species. The Tumuji Reservoir was first built in 1983 (and largely completed by the end of 1985). Its primary functions are ecological protection and agricultural irrigation, along with flood control, fish farming, reed cultivation, and tourism. The reservoir covers a total area of 120,000 mu. During spring, summer, and autumn, the waters ripple with waves, reeds sway in the breeze, and boating through them feels like being in the water towns of southern China. The surrounding landforms are of wetland type. Wetlands play an important role in improving the ecological environment and are hailed by experts and scholars worldwide as the “kidneys of the Earth,” representing one of the most biodiverse ecological landscapes in nature and one of the most vital human living environments. The area is home to a large number of wild birds, including the globally endangered white-naped crane, as well as 200-plus species such as the red-crowned crane, swan, and white stork under national Class I protection. Large flocks often gather, especially during the spring and autumn bird migrations, when tens of thousands of waterbirds congregate near the water. When they take flight, they blot out the sun, creating a spectacular scene in harmony with the expansive waters—an incredible natural wonder.

In 1993, a 500-square-meter island was built in the center of the reservoir. The island enjoys an elegant environment and is accessible only by boat. Surrounded by clear waters, with birds chirping among the willows and fish playing in the water within arm’s reach, you can sit at the stone table under the pavilion, composing poetry or painting by the water, discussing history, or sharing drinks with friends while enjoying life. On rainy summer days, when mist and moisture envelop the island, it transports you into a painting-like scene of “a solitary island hidden in the misty lake, with layers of clouds curling around a lone pavilion.”