Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

 Poyang Lake Nature Reserve of Jiangxi Province

In southern Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Provinceand at the foot of Lushan Mountain lies Poyang Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in China. Poyang Lake Nature Reserve covers a total area of 22,400 hectares. Its protection targets are white cranes, egrets and other rare birds. It has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance.

According to related investigation, the Reserve provides shelters for a million birds of258 species,of which over40such as egrets, white cranes, white-crown cranes, great bustards, golden eagles and swansareput under the first-grade and second-grade state protection.It is known as the world's largest nature reserve for white cranes to live through the winter. Some 95% white cranes in the world may fly here to escape the winter cold. Up to now, Poyang Lake is also the habitat for migratory birds in the world to spend their winter. Therefore, Poyang Lake becomes an important reserve for the protection and research of birds.   

 East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve of Hunan Province       

Located in the boundaries of Yueyang City, Hunan Province, East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve covers an area of 190,300 hectares. The Reserve has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance. Its main protection targets are wetland and rare bird species.

The Reserve is part of Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. Affected by the Yantze River and Xiang Water System, marshland, swamp, shoal and so on have been formed. At the same time, materials brought by floodwaters are deposited, which provide favorable conditions for aquatic wildlife to live and breed. Since the Reserve lies in the reproduction area of migratory birds of the winter and the summer, it is rich in bird species. There are 158 species of migratory birds and 10 species including white cranes are put under the first-grade state protection, 27 species such as swans under the second-grade state protection. Such mammals as white-flag dolphin and black finless porpoise can often be spotted in the lake. The Reserve also boasts 20 fish species of economic value such as Chinese Paddlefish.