Qian'an, Tangshan:The Water City Welcomes Bird-Watching Season

Swans stretch their wings, grebes dance to court each other, and gray cranes stroll across the mudflats. As the weather gets warmer, the ice on Huangtai Lake in Qian'an, Tangshan City melts. The 14-square-kilometer lake ripples with beautiful blue waves. Many migratory birds use this place as a "refueling stop" on their migration journey.

White Swans Swimming in Water

Photo by Chen Ru

Ruddy Shelduck Soaring in the Sky  

Photo by Chen Ru

Qian'an, fully utilizes its unique natural advantages of the Luan River flowing through the city and has invested 13 billion yuan in comprehensive river management. Currently, the urban river area features a 14-square-kilometer water surface and more than 6,800 acres of islands, making Qian'an a rare "water city in the north". The waters connect with islands, and the mountains embrace the rivers. This ecological landscape provides birds with winter food.A large number of birds inhabit and forage here, creating a unique urban landscape.

A Pair of Common Coot Birds Playing in the Water 

Photo by Chen Ru

In recent years, Qian'an has constantly updated its ecological environment, so that the number and types of migratory and resident birds have increased significantly. According to the local Forestry Department's statistics, as the weather gradually gets warmer, a large number of migratory birds fly back from their wintering grounds in the south to their breeding grounds in the north, with about 30 species of migratory birds using Qian'an as a "stopover " during migration.

A Pair of Grebes Frolicking and Foraging in Huangtai Lake

Photo by Chen Ru

Flocks of migratory birds forage on the mudflats, play on the sparkling lake, or soar over the blue water. Visitors stop by the lake to enjoy the graceful swimming birds and appreciate  the breathtaking spring scenery.  (Written by Zhang Shunhan)