[Photo via VCG]

The Yeya Lake Wetland in Yanqing District has been added to the list of new internationally important wetlands, a first in Beijing.

The municipal-level Yeya Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Beijing's Yanqing District has a total area of 6,873 hectares. The Yeya Lake wetlands are all located in the reserve, with an area of 4,007.84 hectares. The reserve thus has different types of wetlands such as rivers, lakes, mudflats and ponds, as well as the main habitats of water birds and other animals and plants, with a wetland rate of 72.0%.

Located in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway area, the Yeya Lake Wetland is an important stop for bird migration. At present, 361 species of birds have been observed and recorded in the wetland, including rare and endangered birds such as red-crowned cranes.

(Source: Beijing Daily)