Part II of Warm Temperate China
I. Map Focus Area: 30 to 40 degrees North; 110 to 120 degrees East
II. Countries (Provinces or Districts): China (Anhui, Beijing Municipality, Chongqing Municipality, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Tianjin Municipality, and Zhejiang).
III. Overview of the Paleontological Landscape
Prior to the dinosaur extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period 65 million years ago, there was an even larger mass extinction, at the end of the Permian Period. The best uninterrupted Permian-Triassic marine interval found in the world is at Mei Mountain, just west of Tai Lake in Zhejiang province. This extinction event eliminated 50 percent of marine families, 96 percent of marine invertebrates, and decreased terrestrial reptilian faunas. It was originally thought that the extinction event might be related to volcanism at the Siberian traps to the north of China (Clark et al. 1986; Reme et al. 1995). However, the end-Permian boundary sediments at Meishan have metallic grains condensed from an impact-generated vapor cloud. These grains are present from the South Pole to the Equator, where China was located at the time. Thus, there is evidence that the two largest extinctions, Cretaceous-Tertiary and Permian-Triassic, were caused by catastrophic impacts (Basu et al. 2003). Dating of ash beds at Mei Mountain have provided a precise date of 252.6 million years ago for the mass extinction (Mundil et al. 2004).
The beginning of the age of dinosaurs, the Triassic period, is evident at Majia Mountain north of Chao Lake in Anhui. Here is the mother lode of fossils from marine reptiles—icthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. Icthyosaurs and pleiosaurs were warm-blooded, while mosasaurs were cold-blooded (Stone 2010).
In 1993, floodwaters in the Xixia County area of southwestern Henan uncovered thousands of dinosaur eggs which were laid during the Cretaceous (Flam 1993). Some eggs were up to 16 inches long (Holden 1993). Today fossil eggs may be viewed at the Xixia Dinosaur Remains Park and Museum, which features a tunnel into the hillside to expose eggs which may be viewed embedded in the ceiling (Hone 2009). Many of the eggs contain embryos, which have been analyzed for developmental age. Most of the embryos were at least two-thirds of the way through development at the time they were fossilized. It is likely that the babies came out the eggs able to chase down prey and consume suitable plants (Pennisi 2004).
At Zhucheng Dinosaur Geopark in Shandong, a large and rich fossil area for large dinosaurs has been found. Specimens of duck-billed, horned, and tyrannosaurs are evident. Zhucheng is now called the Chinese ‘dinosaur city’ (Branigan 2011).
At Shanwang National Geology Park in Shandong, sedimentary rocks provide fossil evidence of 500 species, including plants, insects, fish, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. It is believed to be the world’s richest Miocene Epoch fossil locality and has been preserved as a park. The Shanwang Fossil Museum preserves 10,000 specimens.
In southern Jiangsu province, fissures in limestone at Shanghuang have provided fossils of middle Miocene mammals in addition to early primates (Rossie Xijun and Beard 2006). The small primate Eosimias is believed to bridge the gap between the lower primates and higher primates such as monkeys, apes, and humans. Other Eosimias fossils have been found at Yuangqu on the Yellow River in Shanxi province (Beard et al. 1996).
The fossils of Peking Man, now known as Homo erectus, were found in 1929 at Zoukoudian, a World Heritage Site 50 km southwest of Beijing. The cave-riddled hills yielded 200 bones before 1937, in strata that are 680,000 to 780,000 years old (Stone 2009). There is some evidence that bones were burned, although it is disputed whether the inhabitants were intentionally using fire (Wu 1999). The fossils and artifacts such as rudimentary tools vanished following the Japanese invasion in 1937.
The focus area is the home of ginkgo trees, the preeminent living fossil. Distinctive ginkgo leaves are common fossils in sediments of Jurassic and Cretaceous age. Living trees have been cultivated in China since at least 1100 CE, and botanists dispute whether the Chinese populations are wild populations. One possibly wild population in the focus area is at Tianmu Biosphere Reserve on the border between Anhui and Zhejiang. Another possibly wild population is at Shennongjia Biosphere Reserve in Hubei.
IV. Overview of the Natural Landscape
The focus area between 30 and 40 degrees latitude makes the transition between warm temperate evergreen forests in the south and dry grasslands in the northwest. The dense human population has impacted this landscape for thousands of years, but many valuable near-natural landscapes remain. China has embraced the geopark concept and has established reserves in mountainous areas. The Fang Mountain Geopark consists of eight units in Beijing Municipality and Hebei, including the Zhoukoudian World Heritage Site, caves and gorges. Funiu Mountain Geopark is the transition between temperate deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forests. Other geoparks are in Anhui, Henan and Shandong. Mountain nature reserves across warm temperate China are important bird areas for pheasants and pittas. Saline meadows along the coast and freshwater wetlands along the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers provide habitat for waterbirds such as the red-crowned crane, geese, and shorebirds. Biosphere reserves at Funiu (Baotianman) Shennongjia, and Tianmu protect rare plants and birds in mountain settings.
V. Overview of Environmental Issues
Perhaps the most well-known infrastructure project is the Three Gorges Dam, which impounds the Yangtze River in Hubei and is now the world’s largest hydropower project, with a reservoir surface area of 1080 square km. The Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam were a barrier to the Yangtze finless porpoise, Chinese river dolphin, and Chinese paddlefish, the latter two of which are now believed to be extinct. The Yangtze soft shell turtle is extinct in the wild. The last paddlefish was caught in 2003 and the last sighting of the river dolphin was in 2004 Stone 2011a). Reservoir issues include algae blooms, sedimentation, and schistosomiasis or snail fever. China is embarking on an ambitious project to improve water quality (Stone 2011b).
Water from the reservoir may eventually be linked to another large infrastructure project, the South to North Water Transfer Project. The eastern and central routes will traverse the map focus area. The eastern route is 1150 km long, has 23 pumping stations, and follows the general path of the Grand Canal, which is being widened and deepened. The diversion is at Yangzhou on the Yangtze River. The flow will pass under the Yellow River in a tunnel. The diversion represents a five percent reduction in Yangtze River flow (Stone and Jia 2006). The eastern route has been slowed by the need to clean up water before it is diverted north (Hao 2007). The central route currently begins at the Danjiankou Dam on the Han River in Hubei and will traverse north for 1,000 km through Henan and Hebei to Beijing. The central route will require 1,774 structures to channel the water through Henan and Hebei. Approximately 16 percent of the Han River flow is to be diverted. A southern extension will extend to the Yangtze River below Three Gorges Dam (Stone and Jia 2006, Wong 2011).
The South to North project is intended to address the severe water shortages which exist in the North China Plain, an area encompassing the Beijing and Tianjin municipalities. The rapid growth of the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, together with agricultural irrigation through intensive groundwater pumping in the Hai River basin, has led to water shortages (Li 2010, Wong 2011).
During the past three decades, Tai Lake in the southeastern portion of the focus area has become famous for its pollution, especially for its blue-green algae blooms. During the summer the shallow lake turns pea green. The blue-green algae thrive on a mix of industrial, farm, and municipal effluent. Since a disastrous bloom in 2007, hundreds of small chemical and manufacturing plants have been forced to relocate, and strict effluent controls were instituted (Stone 2011c). The goal is to restore the fisheries in the lake as well as the suitability for a drinking water source (Hao and Stone 2010).
In the Yellow River valley of Shandong, one fifth of China’s wheat and a smaller percentage of its corn are produced (Postel 2006). High nitrogen fertilizer input and low-nitrogen use efficiency have resulted in soil acidification (Guo et al. 2010).
VI. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Paleoarctic (PA) Biome
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests of the Paleoarctic Biome
PA 101. Guizhou Plateau broadleaf and mixed forests. This cool, cloudy realm of limestone pinnacles is dominated by plants in the oak, laurel, and tea families. Other common plants include hemlock, maple, rhododendron, Prunus and fir. Animals include macaques, monkeys, tigers, Sika deer, and leopards. Found in Chongqing Municipality, Hubei, and Hunan on the map.
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
PA 411. Central China loess plateau mixed forest. This ecoregion developed on wind-blown loess 200 m thick and is a transition from the deciduous temperate forests to the steppes and deserts to the north and west. The forest is a mixed broadleaf deciduous forest of oak, birch, maple, and linden. Found in Beijing Municipality, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi in the map focus area.
PA 415. Changjiang Plain evergreen forests. The broad Yangtze or Chang Jiang (Long River) valley downstream of the Three Gorges originally contained native evergreen oak and laurel forests. Found in Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang within the map focus area.
PA 417. Daba Mountains evergreen forests. Mixed evergreen oaks and tree mints, along with pines are common. Shennongjia in western Hubei has old growth forests. It is known for the rare Davidia tree. Found in Chongqing Municipality, Hubei, and Shaanxi in the map focus area.
PA 424. Huang He Plain mixed forests. This mostly deciduous forest area is characterized by oak, elm, pistachio, and pines. Found in Anhui, Beijing Municipality, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Tianjin Municipality in the map focus area.
PA 430. Northeast China Plain deciduous forests. Deciduous forests found here are a mixture of hardwoods and conifers, including oaks,maples, elm, ash, and pine. Found in Liaoning in the northeastern corner of the map area.
PA 434. Qin Ling Mountains deciduous forests. Found in Henan, Hubei, and Shaanxi in the map area. A biologically rich deciduous forest of oak, elm, walnut, maple, and pines. To the west of the map area are panda preserves. Found in Henan, Hubei, and Shaanxi in the focus area.
Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
PA 813. Mongolian-Manchurian grassland. Flat to rolling grasslands provide habitat for wild ungulates and are used for sheep and goat grazing. Found in Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi in the map focus area.
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
PA 902. Bohai Sea saline meadow. Made of sediments in the Yellow and Luan River Deltas, these areas are dominated by goosefoot and grasses. They are mostly used for rice and aquaculture, with natural areas providing habitat for Saunders gull and red-crowned crane. Found in Hebei, Shandong, and Tianjin Municipality in the map area.
PA 908. Yellow Sea saline meadow. The delta of the Huai River consists of saline meadows dominated by goosefoot and grasslands. About 40 percent of the wild population of red-crowned crane winters here. Some areas are used for shrimp aquaculture. Found in Jiangsu in the map area.
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
PA 1013, Ordos Plateau Steppe. Scrub vegetation with some desertification from heavy grazing. Found in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Shaanxi in the map area.
VII. Freshwater Ecoregions
Northern Asia Region, Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands
635. Huang He Great Bend. Includes Inner Mongolia province on map.
636. Lower Huang He. Includes Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces on map.
Southern Asia Region, Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands
766. Lower Yangtze. The Yangtze and tributaries upriver to Three Gorges, including Huai River, Weishan Lake, and Dan River drainages. Includes Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and provinces on map. The Yangtze has 378 fish species, including 162 that are endemic (Stone 2011a).
Southern Asia Region, Temperate Upland Rivers
765. Middle Yangtze. Includes Three Gorges area of Chongqing Municipality and western Hubei province on map.
VIII. Marine Ecoregions
Temperate Northern Pacific Realm, Cold Temperate Northwest Pacific Province
50. Yellow Sea. Includes Yellow Sea and Bo Gulf on map.
IX. World Heritage Sites (see Part I for more cultural sites)
Huang (Yellow) Mountain, Anhui. Renowned for its magnificent scenery, Huang Mountain inspired art and literature throughout Chinese history. Scenery includes rocky peaks, forests of stone pillars, and waterfalls, all in a densely forested landscape of evergreen moist forest below 1,100 m and deciduous forest from 1100 to 1800 m. Huang is also in the world network of geoparks for its natural landscape and is an Important Bird Area for greater spotted eagle and brown-chested jungle flycatcher. Ecoregion 415.
Song Mountain, Henan. The central Taoist sacred mountain of China is associated with the concept of the center of heaven and earth, The site consists of eight units containing temples, pagodas, an academy, and an observatory. Cypress trees on the site are believed to be 4500 years old. Song Mountain is in the world network of Geoparks. Ecoregion PA424.
Great Wall, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. The world’s largest military structure was built from 220 BC to 1600 AD and served a single strategic purpose for 2,000 years. Part of the Fang Mountain Geopark in Hebei. Ecoregions 411, 813, and 1013.
Tai Mountain (East Great Mountain), Shandong. Considered a birthplace of Chinese civilization, ancient temples built over 2,000 years and dense forests dot this mountain cultural landscape. Tai Mountain is also in the world network of geoparks for its early Precambrian trilobite fossils. Ecoregion PA 424.
Zhoukoudian, Beijing Municipality. The fossils of Peking Man, now known as Homo erectus, were found in 1929 at this site 50 km southwest of Beijing. The cave-riddled hills yielded 200 bones before 1937, in strata that are 680,000 to 780,000 years old (Stone 2009). There is some evidence that bones were burned, although it is disputed whether the inhabitants were intentionally using fire (Wu 1999). The fossils and artifacts such as rudimentary tools vanished following the Japanese invasion in 1937. Ecoregions 411 and 424.
X. Ramsar Sites
Yancheng National Nature Reserve, Jiangsu. Also a Biosphere Reserve. At least one-half of the world’s population of red-crowned crane uses the grass and sedge marshes and wetlands of this vast coastal wetland. The nature reserve also provides habitat for Oriental white stork, swan goose, Baikel teal, white-naped crane, Dalmatian pelican, Baer’s pochard, Saunder’s gull, Pere David’s deer, and black-faced spoonbill. Ecoregion PA 908.
XI. Man and the Biosphere Reserves
Baotianman, Henan. This area contains mixed deciduous and evergreen conifer forest with oaks, poplars, and Rhododendron. It is known for medicinial plant and tea from native plants. The biosphere reserve is part of the Funiu Mountain geopark. Ecoregion PA434.
Shennongjia, Hubei. This mixed deciduous-evergreen forest contains oaks, conifers, and bamoo forests interspersed with agriculture and tea plantations. There are 2,762 species of plants. The medicinal species provide the nickname of ‘Natural Medicinal Park.’ It also preserves habitat for the golden monkey and is an Important Bird Area for Reeve’s pheasant and white-eared night heron. Ecoregion PA417.
Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang. This mixed forest of evergreen and deciduous trees protects 35 species of rare plants including Katsura, Chinese tulip, Yulan magnolia, cycads, and Liriodendron. Ancient pines and the cloud leopard are found here. It is an Important Bird Area for Elliot’s pheasant and fairy pitta. Tianmu is also known as the home of ginkgo trees. Ecoregion PA 415.
Yancheng. See description under Ramsar sites above.
XII. Global Network of Geoparks
Fang Mountain, Beijing Municipality and Hebei. This geopark includes eight sites south of Beijing that are paleontological and karst landform sites in Ecoregion PA411. In the Fanshan District are
(1) Zhoukoudian (see World Heritage Sites)
(2) Shihua (Stone Flower) Cave
(3) Shi Du (Ten Ferries) Scenic Area
(4) Shangfang Mountain Scenic Area
(5) Shenglian Mountain Scenic Area
To the West of Beijing is
(6) Baihua Mountain Natural Scenic Area, famous for flowers. Baihua Mountain is also an Important Bird Area for grey-sided thrush.
To the southwest in Hebei is
(7) Yesanpo Baili Canyon, consisting of three deep canyons
(8) Baishi Mountain National Geological Park, with waterfalls and gorges and a section of the Great Wall.
Funiu Mountain, Henan. Ecoregion PA434. This park includes the Baotianman Biosphere Reserve and the dinosaur fossil egg site in Xixia. Forests in this Important Bird Area provide habitat for greater spotted eagle, eastern imperial eagle, and Reeve’s pheasant. Ecoregion PA434.
Huang Mountain, Anhui. See entry under World Heritage Sites.
Song Mountain, Henan. See entry under World Heritage Sites.
Tai Mountain, Shandong. See entry under World Heritage Sites.
Wang Wu Mountain and Daimei Mountain, Henan. This geopark encompasses the gorges along the Yellow River between Luoyang and Jiyuan. Ecoregion PA424.
Yuntai Geopark, Henan. This area is characterized by hanging springs and waterfalls, gorges, and sheer rock walls. Ecoregion PA411
XIII. Important Bird Areas
Baihua Mountain Nature Reserve, Beijing Municipality. See entry under Fang Mountain Geopark.
Baiyangdian, Hebei. Ecoregion PA411.
Beidai River Wetlands, Hebei. Used by migrating cranes, gulls, and songbirds, which rest on headlands protruding from the coastline, this area is an IBA for Chinese egret, Baikal teal, Siberian crane, great bustard, and black stork. Ecoregion PA411.
Beidagang Nature Reserve, Tianjin Municipality. An IBA for Oriental white stork, red-crowned crane, and swan goose. Ecoregion PA411.
Binzhou Coastal Islands, Shandong. An IBA for great bustard. Ecoregion PA902.
Caizi and Wuchang Lakes, Anhui. These and other lakes nearby make up the Anqing Wetlands IBA, which provides habitat for Oriental white stork, swan goose, hooded crane, and Eurasian spoonbill. Ecoregion PA415.
Chen Lake, Hubei. An IBA for Dalmatian pelican, Oriental white stork, lesser white-fronted goose, and Baikal teal. Ecoregion PA415.
Dongzhai Nature Reserve, Henan. An IBA for Reeve’s pheasant and fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA415.
Funiu Mountain Nature Reserve, Henan. See entry under World Network of Geoparks.
Gaoyou Lake, Jiangsu. An IBA for Dalmatian pelican, Oriental white stork, swan goose, and black-faced spoonbill. Ecoregion PA415.
Guanyang, Chongqing. An IBA for Reeve’s pheasant. Ecoregion PA417.
Guniujiang Nature Reserve, Anhui. An IBA for Elliot’s pheasant and brown-chested jungle flycatcher. Ecoregion PA415.
Heijin Nature Reserve, Shanxi. Wetlands in this IBA provide habitat for common crane. Ecoregion PA411.
Heyang wetlands, Shaanxi. An IBA for Oriental white stork, Eastern imperial eagle, red-crowned crane, great bustard, great egret, and whooper swan. Ecoregions PA 411 and PA 424.
Hou River Nature Reserve, Hubei. Forests provide an IBA for Reeve’s pheasant. Ecoregion PA101.
Huang Mountain, Anhui. See entry under World Heritage Sites.
Huangfu Mountain Nature Reserve, Anhui. An IBA for fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA415.
Huanglong Mountain, Shaanxi. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregion PA 424.
Laizhou Bay, Shandong. An IBA for black-bellied plover, lesser sand plover, and bar-tailed godwit. Ecoregion PA902.
Huping Mountain Nature Reserve, Hunan. An IBA for Reeve’s pheasant, brown-chested jungle flycatcher, and silver oriole. Ecoregion PA101.
Jigong Mountain Nature Reserve, Henan. Forests provide an IBA for Reeve’s pheasant and fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA415.
Kaifeng Liuyuankou Nature Reserve, Henan. An IBA for Oriental white stork, lesser white-fronted goose, swan goose, and Baikal teal. Ecoregion PA424.
Li Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanxi. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregions PA 411 and PA424.
Lianyungang saltworks, Jiangsu. An IBA for black-faced spoonbill, spotted redshank, marsh sandpiper, and great knot. Ecoregion PA424.
Longgan Lake Nature Reserve, Hubei. An IBA for Oriental white stork, swan goose, lesser white-fronted goose, and Baikal teal. Ecoregion PA415.
Luan River Estuary, Hebei. An IBA for Saunder’s gull. Ecoregions PA411 and PA902.
Luju coastal mudflat, Tianjin Municipality. An IBA for relict gull. Ecoregion PA902.
Luya Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanxi. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregions PA 411 and PA813.
Mengjin Yellow River Nature Reserve, Henan. An IBA for Oriental white stork, swan goose, great bustard, and common crane. Ecoregion PA 424.
Nansi Lake Nature Reserve, Shandong. An IBA for swan goose, lesser white-fronted goose, Baikal teal, scaly-sided merganser, and great bustard. Ecoregion PA 424.
Nandagang Marshes Nature Reserve, Hebei. Ecoregion PA902.
Pangquangou Nature Reserve, Shanxi. An IBA for swan goose, brown-eared pheasant, and greater spotted eagle. Ecoregions PA 411 and PA 1013.
Qilihai Nature Reserve, Tianjin Municipality. An IBA for Oriental white stork, great bustard, and red-crowned crane. Ecoregions PA411 and PA 902.
Qingliangfeng Nature Reserve, Anhui and Zhejiang. An IBA for Elliot’s pheasant and brown-chested jungle flycatcher. Ecoregion PA415.
Rizhao coastal wetlands and islands, Shandong. An IBA for swan goose and red-crowned crane. Ecoregion PA424.
Sanmenxia Kuqu Nature Reserve, Henan. An IBA for swan goose, lesser white-fronted goose, Baer’s pochard, red-crowned crane, and whooper swan. Ecoregion PA424.
Shaobo Lake, Jiangsu. . An IBA for Dalmatian pelican, Oriental white stork, swan goose, and black-faced spoonbill. Ecoregion PA415.
Shengjin Lake Nature Reserve, Anhui. An IBA for Oriental white stork, swan goose, lesser white-fronted goose, Baikal teal, and Baer’s pochard. Ecoregion PA415.
Shennongjia Biosphere Reserve, Hubei. See description under biosphere reserves.
Shijiu Lake Nature Reserve, Anhui. An IBA for Oriental white stork, swan goose, lesser white-fronted goose, Baikal teal, and great bustard. Ecoregion PA415.
Shishankou Reservoir, Henan. An IBA in southern Henan providing wetlands for Oriental white stork and swan goose. Ecoregion PA 415.
Sihong Nature Reserve, Jiangsu. An IBA for Oriental white stork, swan goose, Baikal teal, great bustard, and white-naped crane. Ecoregion PA424.
Taihang Mountain Macaque Nature Reserve, Henan. Wetlands provide habitat for waterbirds and the area is an IBA for Baikal teal, Baer’s pochard, and lesser kestrel. Ecoregion PA 411.
Tianlong Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanxi. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregion PA411.
Tianma Nature Reserve, Anhui. This is an IBA in the Dabie Mountains for Reeve’s pheasant and fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA 415.
Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang. See description under Biosphere Reserves.
Tuanbowa Nature Reserve, Tianjin Municipality. An IBA for Oriental white stork, great bustard, and red-crowned crane. Ecoregion PA411.
Weinan Sanhe, Shaanxi. An IBA for Baikal teal, red-crowned crane, great bustard, and common crane. Ecoregion PA411.
Wulu Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanxi. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregion PA411.
Xiaruyue Reservoir, Shanxi. An IBA for eagles and black stork. Ecoregion PA 411.
Xiaowutai Mountain Nature Reserve, Hebei. An IBA for brown-eared pheasant. Ecoregion PA 411.
Yancheng Nature Reserve, Jiangsu. See entry under Ramsar sites.
Yaoluoping Nature Reserve, Anhui. This IBA in the Dabie Mountains is designated for the Reeve’s pheasant and fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA415.
Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve, Shandong. Wetlands and grasslands provide an IBA for Oriental white stork, Saunder’s gull, great bustard, scaly-sided merganser, white-naped crane, and Nordmann’s greenshank. Ecoregion PA902.
Yubei Nature Reserve, Henan. An IBA for Oriental white stork, Dalmatian pelican, swan goose, and lesser white-fronted goose. Ecoregion PA411.
Yuhan Liangzhu, Zhejiang. Ecoregion PA415.
Yuncheng Swan Nature Reserve, Shanxi. Wetlands provide habitat for whooper swan and Oriental white stork. Ecoregion PA424.
Zipeng Mountain National Forest Park, Anhui. An IBA for fairy pitta. Ecoregion PA415.
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