Approved by the State Council in October 1992, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, located in Dongying, East China's Shandong province, is a premier protected area.
Spanning 1,530 square kilometers, it stands as Shandong's only national-level nature reserve and is recognized internationally as an important wetland.
The reserve features the most recent, extensive, and well-preserved wetland ecosystem within China's warm temperate zone.
The Yellow River Estuary Ecological Scenic Area, developed from the nature reserve, offers a wealth of unique attractions, including the confluence of the river and the sea, rare migratory bird species, and a distinctive coastal wetland landscape.
An aerial view of the confluence of the Yellow River and the blue sea. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Hosting the largest newly-formed wetland vegetation area along China's coast, the scenic region is rich in plant biodiversity, featuring 685 plant species, and has a vegetation coverage of 55.1 percent.
A magnificent view of the crimson-red carpet created by seepweeds in autumn in the Yellow River Estuary Ecological Scenic Area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The scenic area is also recognized as a key international hub for migratory birds. It serves as a crucial transit station, wintering ground, and breeding area for bird migrations across Northeast Asia and the circum-West Pacific region. It is home to 12 species of nationally protected first-level birds and 51 species of second-level protected birds.
A group of spoonbills rest in the Yellow River Estuary Ecological Scenic Area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
