Bayanbulak Swan Lake
天鹅湖
A highland wetland made up of many small lakes and marshes. It is China's largest breeding habitat for wild swans, and in summer visitors can watch flocks of whooper swans from a distance.
Bayanbulak Swan Lake is not a single lake, but a vast complex of marshes and lakes formed by springs and snowmelt in the upper reaches of the Kaidu River, in the Great Yulduz Basin. It is part of the Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve and a component of the Xinjiang Tianshan World Heritage Site. It is China's largest swan breeding ground, home to more than 10,000 birds, including whooper swans, Bewick's swans, and mute swans, along with waterbirds such as bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks, and common cranes. Visitors take the shuttle bus to the Swan Lake viewing area and observe from boardwalks and bird hides. Entry into the core reserve is not permitted. Binoculars or a telephoto lens are recommended, and birds are most active in the early morning and evening. Admission is shared with the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns scenic area (check with the scenic area for current details). Feeding, chasing, or disturbing birds with drones is prohibited in the reserve, and visitors should stay on the paths, since the wetland ground is soft. Some wetlands and waterbirds can also be seen from the roadside near Bayanbulak Town.
Opening hours
Opens with Bayanbulak Scenic Area
Nearby sights
- Nine-Bend River of Bayanbulak
- Bayanbulak Town & Great Yulduz Grassland
- Kunes Forest Farm & Kunes Valley
- Aiken Daban Pass
- Tielimaiti Pass