Winter wonders on pristine peaks

Going wild in Yangxian county

White-plumed crested ibises, with partially bald heads and red skin, fly the skies on the peaks' southwest.

The endangered species is known as "the oriental gem".

There are only 5,000 worldwide. Half live in the Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve in Hangzhong's Yangxian after decades of conservation.

Spring marks the busiest visiting season. Birdwatchers from Japan and South Korea fly thousands of miles to Yangxian to see the creatures.

The crested ibis, which is widely believed to bring luck in East Asian cultures, was once on the brink of extinction until 1981, when seven were found in Yangxian's wilderness.

"We viewed the Qinling Mountains as the 'Noah's Ark' of the crested ibis at that time," says Dang Shuangren, director of the Shaanxi Provincial Forestry Bureau.

A special team was formed to protect the birds 24/7 after they were discovered, he says. Simultaneously, authorities began captive breeding and adopted relevant protections.

Over the following 30 years, researchers have overcome key technical problems, such as facilitating reproduction.

The reintroduction to the wild of birds raised in captivity has gone well, he says.

China currently is home to about 4,400 crested ibises. Conservationists regularly work with local authorities to release batches of the birds in different areas in the Qinling Mountains.

"It's precious and lucky for us to see this ancient species is still flying around the mountains," Dang says.

Duan Bin, director of Yangxian's ibis park, says bird lovers from Japan and South Korea have "adopted" 10 of the birds there by sponsoring feeding.

"One elderly Japanese man visited to see the birds every year for 15 consecutive years, until his death last year," Duan says.

If you go

Take the No 6 bus from Yangxian to reach the Crested Ibis Ecological Park. The park is open to visitors yearround.

Tickets: 40 yuan ($6)

Tickets hotline: (86) 916-821-2853