More than 10 Chinese mergansers recently arrived in Tancheng county, Linyi, Shandong province, to pass the winter. Many bird enthusiasts have flocked to admire the endangered species.

The scaly-sided merganser, also known as the Chinese merganser, is under first-grade national protection and classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Known as the "aquatic giant panda" and a "living bird fossil", it is a unique bird in China that is 70 million years old.

Tancheng county boasts a beautiful environment, clean water, and many fish, shrimp and aquatic insects, making it very suitable for Chinese mergansers.

A flock of Chinese mergansers have arrived in Tancheng county to pass the winter. [Photo/IC]

The Chinese mergansers, an endangered bird species under national protection, are seen in Tancheng county, Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

Chinese mergansers winter in Tancheng county, Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

The healthy environment in Tancheng county is attracting more and more migratory birds in winter. [Photo/IC]