Xingkai Lake Bird Watching Scenic Area

　　The wetland area of Xingkai Lake spans 2,225 square kilometers, connecting seamlessly with wetlands across the border in Russia, making it one of the three largest wetlands in the world. The wetland boasts an extremely rich diversity of wildlife, including 235 species of globally important migratory birds. Among them, nine species are under first-class national protection: the golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, Steller’s sea eagle, white-tailed sea eagle, oriental white stork, red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, white-naped crane, and scaly-sided merganser. There are over 100 wild red-crowned cranes inhabiting and breeding here, making it the country’s largest migratory bird “stopover.”

　　It is hailed as a “paradise for migratory birds.”

　　The Xingkai Lake Bird Watching Scenic Area is located within Xingkai Lake in Mishan City. It is a national nature reserve and has also been designated as a national geopark primarily featuring wetlands. It is part of the Man and the Biosphere Programme in China. The Xingkai Lake Geopark is situated in the Xingkai Lake Basin and the southern part of Honey Mountain. It stretches from the Baileng River estuary in the west, borders the Muling River to the north, extends to the Song’acha River in the east, and meets Russia at the Greater Xingkai Lake to the south, covering an area of 2,989.85 square kilometers. The geopark integrates geological features such as water bodies, lake ridges, and wetlands in a uniquely ingenious layout. It features a comprehensive array of geological relics, breathtaking scenery, and a rich variety of cultural landscapes with distinctive characteristics.

　　The increasing recognition of Xingkai Lake comes not only from its remote location away from major cities—free from crowding and pollution—but also from its naturally grand and unique landscape. The vast expanse of wetland ranks it among the world’s top three. Wetlands are known as the “kidneys of the Earth,” and their unique plants and structures act as natural filters that purify water quality. The fish and aquatic plants in wetlands serve as vital food sources for waterbirds' survival and reproduction. Within the expansive Xingkai Lake wetlands, over 200 bird species have been recorded. The Xingkai Lake Reserve is one of the primary breeding and habitat grounds for first-class nationally protected birds such as the red-crowned crane, oriental white stork, white-tailed sea eagle, and golden eagle. The breeding population of red-crowned cranes in the Xingkai Lake wetland amounts to over 60 individuals, making it the third-largest breeding population in China. The area is also home to second-class protected species such as the red-necked grebe, Chinese egret, Eurasian spoonbill, white-naped crane, greater white-fronted goose, whooper swan, tundra swan, and mandarin duck. Additionally, the wetland hosts large numbers of breeding birds including black-headed gulls, whiskered terns, mallards, spot-billed ducks, and grey herons, totaling over 20,000. In the Xingkai Lake wetland, you’ll deeply sense how crucial harmony between humans and nature truly is, and how coexistence between humans and wildlife adds vibrancy and beauty to our planet.

　　As a critical chokepoint along the easternmost migratory route for birds in China and even Northeast Asia, the Xingkai Lake wetland holds naturally significant geographical importance. In spring, before the snow and ice on the black soil have melted, punctual migratory birds arrive at Xingkai Lake, bringing with them the breath of southern spring, heralding a new round of springtime here. At the Dragon King Temple at the easternmost point of Xingkai Lake, where the Song’acha River meets the lake, locals refer to a spot known as the “Dragon’s Mouth.” Several square kilometers of water there remain unfrozen year-round, forming an essential passage for migratory birds traveling north and south. Every spring, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop here to rest and feed. After traveling vast distances, this place serves as the best stopover for the birds to recuperate and shake off the dust of their journey.

　　Especially from late March to early April each year, various waterbirds arrive from the south, keeping their autumn promise to Xingkai Lake. According to Liu Huajin, a bird expert at the Xingkai Lake Reserve, the reason Xingkai Lake attracts so many waterbirds lies largely in its pristine natural environment—especially its wetlands, which are among the less polluted and more extensive wetland areas remaining in the world. Coupled with the year-round unfrozen lake outlet, it provides an ideal habitat, feeding ground, and breeding site for waterfowl. After years of conservation efforts, the populations of red-crowned cranes and oriental white storks in the wetlands have significantly increased, turning the area into a key breeding ground.

　　Autumn at Xingkai Lake bursts with color. From a high vantage point, the blue waters meet the sky, forests are painted in layers of fall hues, and the calls of deer blend with the rustling autumn wind. Cranes cry and wild geese dance in the wetlands, creating a scene that captivates the heart. The Xingkai Lake wetlands contain vast tracts of untouched natural wetlands as well as many artificially reclaimed wetlands turned into rice paddies. The state-owned farms here are key national grain production bases, and ripe rice also serves as food for geese and ducks. In the past, when awareness of conservation was weak, people would scare off waterbirds—shooting or poisoning flocks of geese—to protect ripening crops. Now, to safeguard the mature rice, farmers merely place a few scarecrows in the fields.