As ice and snow melt in March, the Manas National Wetland Park in Manas county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, welcomes the peak bird migration season. Swans, herons, cormorants, gulls and other birds pause here to rest and feed, soaring through the sky or frolicking in the water, creating a vibrant natural scene.
Located along the East Africa-West Asia flyway, one of the world's major bird migration routes, the wetland park serves as a crucial stopover for birds to rest and replenish their energy. Thanks to sustained ecological restoration efforts in recent years, the wetland area has expanded from over 40,000 mu (approximately 2,667 hectares) to 110,000 mu, now making up 64.12 percent of the total area. This expansion has created a safe and comfortable habitat for migratory birds. In 2025, the number of swans wintering in the park exceeded 1,000 for the first time.
