The breathtaking blue paradises across China

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Coastal areas are more densely populated than anywhere else because of the numerous resources hidden in the oceans. In the previous episode, we looked at the red beach in Liaoning Province, wetlands in Tianjin, and the sandy coast of Hebei Province. Next, we'll see the Yellow and Yangtze river deltas where flocks of migratory birds linger.

Shandong Province

The dividing line between the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. /VCG Photo

Situated next to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, east China's Shandong Province boasts 32 national marine nature reserves. If you get to Linhai Park in Yantai City, you can see the s-shaped dividing line between the seas. The sea to the west is rather muddy and looks yellow, while that to the east appears dark blue: the contrast is quite astonishing.

Seagulls forage in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province. /VCG Photo

The black-headed gull in Qingdao City, Shandong Province. /VCG Photo

Seagulls forage in Jiaozhou Bay. /VCG Photo

Besides, Shandong is a major wintering ground for migratory birds. Rongcheng National Nature Reserve is the world's largest wintering habitat for whooper swans. Every year, around 10,000 swans stop over there for the fresh water and abundant food in the wetlands.

Whooper swans winter in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province. /VCG Photo

Jiangsu Province

Every December, flocks of red-crowned cranes leave their breeding grounds in the northeast and come to east China's Jiangsu Province to spend the winter. The Yancheng National Nature Reserve for Coastal Rare Birds is their main habitat. In the reserve, large amounts of silt brought by the Yangtze River and Yellow River accumulate here and form the rich mud flats, which meet the high requirements of the picky birds.

A red-crowned crane dancing. /VCG Photo

Close-up of a red-crowned crane in east China's Jiangsu Province. /VCG Photo

Red-crowned cranes in Yancheng National Nature Reserve for Coastal Rare Birds in Jiangsu Province. /VCG Photo

In Lianyungang Haizhou Bay National Marine Park, precious birds like Chinese sparrowhawks and hen harriers and various fish species are under protection. You can also see a range of coastal landforms created by marine abrasion here.

Zhejiang Province

Fishing boats bathing in the sunset at Dongfushan dock, Dongji Isles, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. /VCG Photo

As China's largest archipelago city, Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province is an important site on birds' migration routes. At the southernmost tip of the Zhoushan Archipelago, Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve in Xiangshan is home to critically-endangered Chinese crested terns. The bird, which has a distinctive black crest, has a global population of less than 100.

The critically-endangered Chinese crested tern stands among other birds. /VCG Photo

Apart from that, the surrounding waters of the Jiushan Islands are also breeding grounds for Yangtze finless porpoises, large yellow croakers, and spineless cuttlefish.

Shanghai Municipality

Chinese mitten crabs. /VCG Photo

The two main national marine reserves in east China's Shanghai Municipality are Chongming Dongtan Birds National Nature Reserve and Shanghai Jiuduansha Wetland National Nature Reserve. Every winter, thousands of endangered birds rest here. Chongming Dongtan and its surrounding waters are also breeding grounds for the famous Chinese mitten crabs or Shanghai hairy crabs.

In the next episode, we're going to present you the green turtles and Chinese white dolphins in the blue paradises of south China. Stay tuned!

(Cover image via VCG)

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