Ulan Nur

Ulan Nur

Nestled between Lake Hulun and Lake Buir lies a mysterious place known as the “Birds’ Paradise”—Ulan Nur Wetland.

“Ulan” means “red” in Mongolian, and “Nur” means “lake,” symbolizing how, when autumn arrives and reeds bloom, the landscape turns into waves of red.

Also known as Ulan Pao, Ulan Nur is located 65 kilometers southeast of Altan Emel Town and is one of the region’s world-renowned “Two Lakes and One Pao.” It was formed by a tributary of the Urson River, which branches off about 80 kilometers south of Lake Dalai. Covering an area of 42.5 square kilometers, the wetland boasts vast waters, crisscrossing rivers, dense vegetation, thick reed beds, scattered lakes of various sizes, and expansive marshes and wetlands. It is a fully equipped protected area featuring diverse landscapes including water bodies, grasslands, and wetlands. The 710-square-kilometer wetland centered around Ulan Nur has been listed in the “Important Wetlands of Asia,” serving as an optimal site for waterfowl to nest, breed, and forage. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, tens of thousands of migratory birds of various species fly in from the south to make this idyllic paradise their home and raise their young. At this time, Ulan Nur sheds its cold and desolate winter appearance and transforms into a vibrant birds’ paradise. Majestic white swans, graceful red-crowned cranes, shimmering tufted ducks, and the bustling family of gulls create a symphony of sounds—now melodious and cheerful, now tender and affectionate. Accompanying this enchanting music, you’ll see flocks of birds gathering and taking flight together, dancing gracefully across the grasslands. When autumn comes, the birds molt, take their young, and migrate to warmer southern regions for the winter. Surveys have identified over 190 bird species across 33 families and 17 orders in the area, with 116 species breeding within the reserve. It is home to nine Class I protected bird species, including the red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, white-naped crane, black stork, great bustard, golden eagle, Pallas's sea eagle, white-tailed eagle, and Relict gull, as well as 35 Class II protected species such as the white-naped crane, common crane, and whooper swan. It serves as one of the country’s key bases for rare bird breeding research and wetland ecological studies, is among the region’s premier birdwatching destinations, and offers travelers an exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in and embrace nature.

In July 1960, Marshal [Name Redacted] took a small boat to cruise through the reed marshes of Ulan Nur. Witnessing the free and industrious “citizens” of this kingdom taking flight and molting in the reeds, he later composed a poem:

Soaring miles high into the boundless sky,

They return to the reed haven to molt by and by.