As the spring ice melts, thousands of migratory birds have gathered at a lake in Ar Horqin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Species such as bean geese, ruddy shelducks and swans pause here to rest on their journey northward.

With its rich network of wetlands, lakes and rivers, Ar Horqin Banner serves as an important seasonal stopover, offering food and shelter for migratory birds traveling across the region each spring.