Caohai Lake, in the western part of Weining county, Guizhou province recently welcomed the first flocks of migratory birds for this winter, with tens of thousands of them choosing to spend their winter here every year, thanks to its ecology, environment, and climate.

Caohai is the largest site in this part of China where migratory birds like to winter over and one of the world's top 10 high wetlands and a real paradise for bird watchers, since it is home to over 180 species, including at least 70 rare ones, such as the Black-necked Crane, Black Stork, and Hooded Crane. The Black-necked Crane is the only plateau crane in the world, and quite beautiful but a terribly endangered species.

Black-necked Cranes at Caohai Lake, Weining, Guizhou, on Nov 3. [Photo/Yang Wenbin]