Wintering swans help tourism soar at nation's wetlands

TAIYUAN — With the onset of winter, flocks of whooper swans (a large swan with a yellow-and-black bill) from Siberia migrate to China, with their habitats in several provinces, boosting local tourism, as well as attracting photographers and visitors, who are eager to witness the seasonal spectacle.

The Sanwan Wetland in the Yellow River basin, located in Pinglu county in North China's Shanxi province, is in a leeward location and has a mild winter climate, making it an ideal destination for wintering swans.

"The landscape is rich in vegetation. The swans are photographed like ballet dancers, especially when the water has just frozen," says Li Yunsheng, a photography enthusiast.

He drove to the wetland to photograph swans from Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Li says that he comes to the wetland to take photographs every year, noting the number of whooper swans has continued to increase in recent years.

According to Wang Chao from the county's forestry bureau, the number of whooper swans wintering here has exceeded 10,000, thanks to the improving ecological environment of the Yellow River basin.

In response to the increasing number of tourists, Pinglu county has developed an ecological wetland park with trails, observation platforms and other facilities available to visitors free of charge.

In Sanwan village, situated opposite the park, Xie Lixia runs a restaurant serving tourists coming to see the swans.

According to Xie, she can receive more than 100 visitors a day during the busy seasons.

About 40 kilometers from Pinglu county, there is a swan resort located in Ruicheng county that has attracted tourists with its unique offerings.

Visitors here have the opportunity to create DIY souvenirs, such as canvas bags and lanterns.

In Rongcheng city in East China's Shandong province, swans have also become a calling card for local tourism.

A social media influencer named Shen Yiyan has shared her sightseeing experience in the city.

Her post on Xiaohongshu, or Little Red Book, China's lifestyle-focused social media platform, reads: "Navigate to Swan Lake in Yandunjiao village, and, a random shot, there is a great photo with a magnificent view.

"There are many places to eat and stay in the surrounding small fishing villages."

To enhance the living environment and safeguard the whooping swans, which are under second-class national protection, many places have implemented various measures.

For instance, an artificial grass wrack restoration project in Rongcheng has helped provide abundant food for swans.

In Pinglu county, 20 rangers have been appointed to maintain wetland facilities and actively plant crops, such as corn and winter wheat, as supplementary food for the birds.

He Jianxi, who has worked in the Sanwan Wetland for more than 20 years, says that whooper swans are vigilant and aggressive in the wild, but they are not afraid of him.

"They know that I'm kind to them," the ranger says.

Xinhua