Humans and swans meet, painting the beautiful scenery of the Yandunjiao Coast

▲ Whooper swans that fly from Siberia to Yandunjiao in Weihai, Shandong for the winter.For more stunning photos of the swans at Yandunjiao, please see<<<<<<<<<

Reported by Chen Shichang / Shandong

Weihai in Shandong has a latitude similar to that of Seoul, South Korea, with winter temperatures dropping as low as minus 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. Compared to Taiwan, it is a very cold place, but compared to the frigid Siberia, Weihai is considered a “warm” destination. Every winter starting in November, a large group of whooper swans flies 2,000 to 6,000 kilometers to spend the cold season on the shores of Yandunjiao in eastern Weihai. In recent years, local residents have begun to emphasize harmony between humans and animals, strengthening the protection and feeding of the swans until they fly back to their homeland in groups. As a result, Yandunjiao has gradually become a renowned destination across China for both swan watching and photography enthusiasts.

▲ A flock of whooper swans at Yandunjiao in Weihai. The right image shows a swan with its head submerged underwater while the rear is above the surface while foraging.

Yandunjiao is about a two-hour drive from Weihai and is a small coastal village located at the easternmost tip of the Shandong Peninsula. Nearby is the famous sunrise-viewing spot “Chengshantou” (Cape of Good Hope). It is said that Chengshantou was a site visited by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his search for the elixir of immortality, and legend has it that his temporary palace there was later transformed into the Emperor Qin Temple.

Local officials in Yandunjiao say that starting in December, nearly hundreds of people from all over come here every day to photograph the swans. As a result, a unique form of homestay-based tourism service has developed locally.

▲ The “Swan Family” homestay in Yandunjiao and the homestay owner(right figure, right).

The local“Swan Family”homestay owner says they warmly welcome Taiwanese travelers to come and take photos here. Theiraccommodation fees range from 100 to 180 RMB per person, with options for rooms for 2 to 4 people, priced according to the level; the Swan Family also offers meal services, though without fixed pricing—they prepare meals based on however much guests wish to spend,giving it a very homely feel. Tour guide Ms. Huang says that the local hosts are also enthusiastic about taking guests to hidden spots to photograph the swans, which is truly priceless.

▲ The homestay owner returns from taking guests to photograph swans and prepares dinner for them.