As the ice starts to melt on Xingkai Lake in northeast China, a mesmerizing scene of the starry sky blending into the half-melted lake appears. Xingkai Lake is a freshwater border lake shared by China and Russia, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The lake is well-known for its abundance of biodiversity and complex ecosystem. It is also a major stopover point for migratory birds in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since 2011, Xingkai Lake has been seeing minor pollution due to a reduction in agricultural and other human activities. With the local government imposing restrictions on farming and grazing, as well as relocating factories around the lake, the Xingkai Lake is gradually regaining its natural health and continues to host a wide range of wildlife species.

(All photos vis VCG.)

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