The Yellow River Delta lies at the mouth of the Yellow River in Dongying, Shandong province. Sediment carried by the river continues to build up, creating new land and allowing the coastline to extend seaward. Over time, this process has formed vast expanses of newly developed wetlands.
In 1992, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve was established here. In July 2024, the Yellow River Estuary Migratory Bird Habitat in the reserve was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the second phase of China's Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf.
The reserve protects one of the best-preserved, largest and youngest wetland ecosystems in China's warm temperate zone. Spanning two major bird migration routes – the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the West Pacific Flyway – it serves as an important stopover, wintering ground and breeding ground for birds worldwide.
As of 2026, more than 400 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, earning it the nickname "international airport for birds" among Chinese and international experts.
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