Swan Lake Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong province offered vibrant views after a recent heavy snowfall, with the graceful whooper swans foraging, frolicking, and perching in the thick beds of reeds and bending rivers.

Swan Lake is known as the "hometown of the whooper swans" and is an important relay station for the southward migration of the birds. From November to April each year, the swans fly in from Siberia and other regions, staying in the wetland park during the winter. 

In recent years, its ecological environment has been improved greatly thanks to the local government's continuous efforts in wetland restoration, eelgrass artificial cultivation, and sewage treatment transformation, with the number of whooper swans wintering in Swan Lake in Shandong increasing every year.

An aerial photo captures the serene Swan Lake Wetland Park after a heavy snowfall on Jan 2. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Whopper swans perch on the rivers in Swan Lake Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong province. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Thick beds of reeds, graceful swans, white snow, and clear blue waters create a wonderful scene at Swan Lake Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong province. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Swan Lake Wetland Park is bathed in the morning sunlight after a heavy snowfall. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An aerial photo shows the picturesque landscape of Swan Lake Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong province. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Whopper swans forage by the snow-covered riverside at Swan Lake Wetland Park. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Snow blankets Swan Lake Wetland Park in Rongcheng, Shandong province. [Photo by Li Xinjun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]