Cattle graze at the vast grasslands in Ergun.

A big swan flock often includes 5,000 birds during migration season, usually in April and October.

In spite of the huge importance in terms of ecology, Ergun Wetland was little known by the rest of the country until 2000, when a natural reserve was formed, according to Yan Peiyu, deputy head of the wetland natural reserve administration office.

It was recently listed as a candidate for national wetland park status. The Chinese Academy of Sciences also plans to set up 10 surveillance stations to keep a closer eye on this wetland.

I decide to prolong my trip traveling north along the Ergun River to visit two small towns, Shiwei and Enhe, the home of 5,000 descendants of Russians who came to China in the 1910s to escape war in their homeland. But I am told transportation is not convenient after the area was hit by floods this summer.

At least, I have a reason to come to Ergun again in the future.

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