It is a bird research base for several colleges and universities. An international bird-watching festival and bird photo contests are held here annually.

With its unique beauty, the nature reserve is now a vacation destination and attracts millions of nature lovers, hikers and photographers from home and abroad every year.

Among them is Li Weidong. The 42-year-old is a big fan of bird watching and drives to the nature reserve almost every weekend with his friends and families.

"You are very lucky. Tourists used to see only a few migratory birds in the nature reserve during this time of the year, but now various birds flourish in the area all year round," Li tells us.

"These wetlands and birds are nature's gifts to us. We should treat them well," Li adds.

Wild ducks in the nature reserve attract millions of nature lovers every year.

Egrets in the nature reserve attract millions of nature lovers every year.

Contact the writers at juchuanjiang@chinadaily.com.cn and wangqian2@chinadaily.com.cn.