Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2019) |
| Name | Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou |
| Nearby sites | Shengsi Islands 98km, Classical Gardens of Suzhou 135km, Mount Putuo 173km, Lake Tai 174km, The Grand Canal 187km Search nearby |
| Latitude, longitude | 31.51, 122.00 Google Maps |
| Themes | Wetland, Bird, Ocean, Coastal landforms |
About
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (中国黄（渤）海候鸟栖息地) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 as a natural site.
Map
Why it was inscribed
An important habitat for biodiversity and threatened species.
This is a single World Heritage property, inscribed in two phases, with 12 component parts along the coasts of Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, Hebei and Liaoning. Phase I, inscribed in 2019, lies on the Yancheng coast of Jiangsu and includes the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds and Dafeng Milu national nature reserves. Phase II, added in 2024 as an extension of the same property, brought in Chongming Dongtan in Shanghai, the Yellow River mouth in Shandong, and wetlands on the Hebei and Liaoning coasts. These are among the world’s largest intertidal mudflats, in the middle of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway; every year huge numbers of shorebirds stop here to rest and refuel, including endangered species such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank, and more than 400 bird species have been recorded.
Travel tips
Scope: the 12 component parts lie along the coasts of Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, Hebei and Liaoning. The two easiest to visit are Yancheng in Jiangsu (Phase I) and Chongming Dongtan in Shanghai (Phase II).
Getting there: Yancheng has an airport and a high-speed rail station; the rare-bird reserve, the Dafeng Milu reserve and the Tiaozini flats need a car or hired driver. For Chongming Dongtan, cross from central Shanghai to Chongming island by the Yangtze tunnel and bridge or by ferry; Dongtan is at the island's eastern end, reached by car or bus.
Bird-watching: Tiaozini and the Milu reserve at Yancheng; at Chongming Dongtan there are hides and boardwalks overlooking reed marsh and tidal flats.
Time: half a day to a day for Chongming Dongtan; two or three days for Yancheng.
Season: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the migration seasons, with the largest numbers. Winter brings wintering waterbirds; summer has few birds and many mosquitoes.
Tides: birds on the flats move with the tide, and are easier to see at close range around high tide; check a tide table.
Equipment: bring binoculars, a windproof jacket and insect repellent; the flats are open and offer almost no shelter.
Where to stay: Yancheng city; on Chongming there are guesthouses and hotels, or return to Shanghai the same day.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Classical Gardens of Suzhou 135km, The Grand Canal 187km, West Lake, Hangzhou 226km, Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City 228km |
| National parks | Shengsi Islands 98km, Mount Putuo 173km, Lake Tai 174km, Mount Xuedou 217km |
| AAAAA attractions | Shanghai Science and Technology Museum 55km, Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower 57km, Shanghai Wild Animal Park 57km, Site of the First National Congress of the CPC 60km |
| AAAA attractions | Shanghai Dongtan Wetland Park 8km, Changxingdao Suburban Park 30km, Gongqing Forest Park 48km, Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park 49km |
| Historic cities | Shanghai 59km |
| Cities | Shanghai 59km, Suzhou 135km |
| National geoparks | Chongming Island National Geopark 52km |
| Nature reserves | Chongming Dongtan Birds National Nature Reserve 8km, Jiuduansha Wetland National Nature Reserve 36km |
| Historic towns | Gaoqiao Town 45km, Chuansha New Town 46km |