Recently, the first winter snow arrived at the Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve in 2022. From afar, everything takes on a silver-white color. Wintering black-headed cranes are looking for food, dancing and playing around with falling snowflakes.

Black-necked cranes are under first-class national protection in China. The Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve, located in Zhaoyang District of Zhaotong City in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has the largest number of black-necked cranes per unit area among China’s nature reserves. Since the establishment of the nature reserve, it has gradually become the most important wintering habitat and the stop during migration for black-necked cranes on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 27 this year, the number of black-necked cranes wintering at the Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve exceeded 2260, the highest record since 1990.

In recent years, the nature reserve actively carried out wetland protection and restoration to help improve the ecological environment and ensure the safety of black-necked cranes. In the recent three years, the number of black-necked cranes wintering here has remained above 1500.

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(Editors: Ines, Amy)