More than ten million birds have built their homes in the estuary area of the Yellow River this winter, turning the former desolate region into a habitat for birds.

The estuary in the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve, which is China's largest wetland, covers an area of some 150,000 hectares. About 269 kinds of birds reside in this well-preserved natural environment.

There are larks, swans, over 1400 black-mouthed gulls as well as many other precious birds at the estuary.

The Yellow River Delta is situated in the Binzhou Prefecture near the City of Dongying in northwestern Shandong Province. It has a population of 5.2 million and covers an area of 18,000 square kilometers. The delta is very rich in arable land and other natural resources.

China began establishing nature reserves in 1956. By the end of 1999, China has set up 926 nature reserves, including the Wolong Nature Reserve in the southwest. Six other nature reserves have been listed as internationally important wetlands and habitats for birds.