Mandarin ducks are one of the most commonly seen birds in Beijing. In Chinese, the animal is called "yuanyang," where "yuan" and "yang" respectively stand for male and female mandarin ducks. The animal is a symbol of love in traditional Chinese culture, as they are always seen in pairs. But in fact, mandarin ducks only pair for the season, just like other ducks. 

Currently, there are over 560 mandarin ducks living in Beijing, among them over 170 are found at the Beijing Zoo. The number of males is higher than that of females, probably because female ducks have a higher mortality rate than males.

In the early morning, mandarin ducks usually fly out of their night habitat and gather in the pond to forage. About one or two hours later, they return to the branches or rocks near the pond to rest. Here are some photos of mandarin ducks in Beijing enjoying a comfortable summer sleep on branches near the water.

About 'City of Wild'

Nature is not limited to faraway mountains and oceans, it also exists in urban cities and our daily lives. In the series, "City of Wild," CGTN not only unfolds a world of wildlife you were probably not aware of, but also highlights the theme of this year's CBD COP 15: Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.

For more:

City of wild: The cute sparrows in Beijing

City of wild: Inconspicuous birds with really beautiful melodies

City of Wild: Lovely hoopoes in Beijing

City of wild: Milu deer cool off from the Beijing summer

City of Wild: A pair of spotted doves making home in downtown Beijing

City of Wild: Vigilant white-cheeked starlings in Beijing

City of Wild: Hollyhocks bloom in Beijing summer

City of Wild: Crape myrtle blooms in Beijing's summer

City of Wild: Feeling worried? Let orange daylily drawn your sorrows!

City of Wild: The light-vented bulbuls in Beijing

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)