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The Zhalong Natural Reserve is located at the lower reaches of the Wuyur River in the Songnen Plain, the western part of the province of Heilongjiang. Zhalong covers a total area of 210,000 ha/ 518,700 acres.
The wetland in the Zhalong Natural Reserve originated from the Wuyur River of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains near this area, the flooding of the river has formed vast and permanent fresh water reed marshes and lakes.
The Zhalong Wetland plays host to more than 260 species of birds, including 35 species of nationally protected birds, it's particularly famous as a habitat for cranes. There are currently fifteen surviving species of crane, China has nine species while the Zhalong Reserve has six of these species. Especially famous is the red-crowned crane, there are over 2000 wild red-crowned cranes in the world, the Zhalong Reserve is home to more than 400 of these, the largest single habitat for the species. Zhalong has post houses and shelters for the many transnationally migrating birds that spend their winter in the Pacific islands, China's southeast coast and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River but which mate in Mongolia and Russia. Hundreds of thousands of birds pass by Zhalong every spring and autumn.
Trip type: Wildlife
Destination: Zhalong Natural Reserve, Heilongjiang
Duration: 6 Days
Best time to go: April to May, September to November
Main Species: 260 species, including red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, hooded crane, common Crane, oriental stork,etc. |
