During the combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday from Sept 29 to Oct 6, Kunming saw a remarkable year-on-year increase in tourism activity, with wetland parks and villages along the Dianchi Lake becoming new hotspots.
"Around Dianchi Lake, nearly 100 kinds of wild birds have been captured in my camera, some of which are even the new species discovered in recent years," said Li Jiming, an amateur photographer.
Apart from the newly discovered birds, some water birds also reemerged after years of disappearance.
According to the Kunming Dianchi Plateau Lake Research Institute, “Wetlands enjoy the richest biodiversity in the world and play a crucial role in ecosystems. Birds that inhabit and breed in the wetlands indicate the composition of bird communities and the environment quality, therefore having great significance to the management of the wetlands and the protection of bird species diversity.”
Over these years, the institute has been constantly monitoring birds in Dianchi Lake. From 2021 to 2022, over 60,000 birds in 16 orders, 50 families, and 175 species have made their appearances here.
After over 10 years of efforts in ecological restoration, Dianchi Lake has been developed into a wetland-based ecological green barrier spanning 62,900 mu, providing a high-quality ecological environment for residents, as well as making itself a must-visit destination for visitors.
At present, Kunming is prioritizing the development of the ecological environment and scenic spots in Dianchi Lake to propel the coordination of ecological protection, construction of countryside area and local cultural tourism, striving to share the ecological benefits with more people.
