The Lashi Lake in Lijiang

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(People's Daily Online) 08:33, August 16, 2013

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Lashihai (Lashi Hai & previously more commonly known as Lashiba Hai) is a sizeable lake, 20 kilometers almost directly west of Lijiang, that holds large numbers of wintering waterfowl (often including small numbers of Falcated Duck), common cranes and occasional birds of prey such as White-tailed Eagle.

Lashi Lake provides habitat for 198 bird species — 77 of which are migratory shorebirds. This area has the greatest abundance of bird species in Yunnan. As many as 80,000 birds migrate to this wetland during winter. Three are National First-Ranked Protection species: the black stork, black-necked crane, and hooded crane.

Nestled at the centre of the Lijiang County of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, the Lijiang Lashihai Plateau Wetland Nature Reserve was established in 1998 by the Yunnan provincial government to preserve an indispensable wetland habitat. The 65-square-kilometre reserve is home to some 300,000 Naxi and Li ethnic people. But it becomes more populous during winter-as the reserve turns into a paradise for migratory birds. Lashihai Lake is the main area where birds dwell.

Around 140,000 migratory birds spend their winter beside Lashihai Lake. A repertoire of 165 species of birds can be observed in Lashihai. Some of them are endangered species, including the black-necked crane, white stork and ruddy shelduck. The sojourners' arrival begins at the end of September, and peaks in December, and sojourners leave in early April.

（Editor：YeXin、Chen Lidan）