City for Bird-viewing

Eight-hundred-mile Dongting Lake, poetic and picturesque, is composed of East Dongting, South Dongting and West Dongting. The East Dongting under Yueyang's jurisdiction covers an area of 1,650 square kilometers, accounting for 60% of the total area of Dongting Lake.

Through geotectonic movements for eons, Dongting Lake has formed a unique landscape of being surrounded by mountains and lakes. Meanwhile, a particular ecosystem takes shape, featuring a complex ecological environment, scattered watercourses, endless mud flat and a vast expanse of reed marshes.

The East Dongting Lake, located in the world's richest biodiversity zone at 30 degrees north latitude, is one of top 200 ecological zones around the globe approved by WWF. According to scientific investigations, East Dongting Lake has recorded 1,186 plants, 117 fishes, 338 birds and 68 aquatic animals. Of these, 7 kinds of birds including white cranes are under first grade state protection. 45 types of birds including cygnets and mandarin ducks are under second grade state protection. 129 kinds of birds are involved in the Chinese-Japanese and Chinese-Australia bilateral protection agreements. Among 35 thousand endangered anser erythropus across the world, 25 thousand of them live through the winter here, hence this is the land of hope for saving endangered species.

In order to protect the wetland ecosystem and rich biodiversity of Dongting Lake, in 1982 Hunan province established the East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve at provincial level. In 1992, as one of the first batches of 6 wetlands, East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve, designated by and representing China, became a member of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. In 1994, East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve was upgraded to one at national level. In 2006, it ranked as a national demonstration area.

As China's key wintering land for waterfowls, East Dongting Lakes wetland also serves as a significant breeding place and habitat. When it comes to winter, over 10 thousand water birds like anatidae, shorebirds and storks will be attracted here by luxuriant water plants and abundant benthos, fish and shrimp. Dongting Lake at that time is indeed a home and paradise to birds.

Since 2002, bird viewing competitions have been initiated in East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve within inland China. In 2007, Yueyang city was conferred the title of China's Bird Viewing City by China Wildlife Conservation Association. Now, winter bird viewing in Dongting Lake has become a symbol of Yueyang city's ecotourism.

Chinese source: yueyang.gov.cn