Young birders take flight

"Birdwatching makes my daily life more interesting," he said. During breaks between classes, he watches sparrows, listens for bird calls and gets excited whenever a bird of prey passes overhead.

In search of rare species, Yang often travels to remote areas. The early mornings and physical demands were difficult at first, but even a brief encounter with a bird he has been hoping to see gives him a strong sense of achievement.

"Birdwatching requires patience and luck. It has made me more resilient and focused, and those qualities also help me in my studies and daily life," he said.

While Yang actively travels in search of rare species, Wang Yin, 34, has woven birdwatching into the quieter rhythms of everyday life. Wang, a Xiaohongshu blogger who shares her birding experiences online, said the hobby has gradually changed the way she sees the world.