Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhou Peng) news: On December 26, 2025, Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, ushered in the best bird-watching season. Whooper swans and mute swans arrive from distant Siberia to spend the winter here, injecting the cold season with a touch of graceful vitality.

The Swan Lake in Emin County is not a single lake, but a compound ecosystem formed by natural springs, marshes, wetlands and shallow lakes. Nourished year-round by tributaries of the Emin River, the area is abundant in aquatic plants and dense reed beds. Even in the depths of winter, some stretches remain turquoise and ice-free, making the site an indispensable stopover and wintering ground on the migratory flyway.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows swans swim at the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows swans play at the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows swans play at the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

From October each year through the following April, Swan Lake is at its liveliest. Flocks of swans arrive as if keeping a long-standing appointment, gliding gracefully across the crystal-clear water or lowering their heads to forage in the shallows, drawing bird-watchers and photographers from every corner of China.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows visitors visit swans at the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows a volunteer observes swans by the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows swans fly over the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo take on December 26, 2025 shows swans forage at the Swan Lake in Emin County, Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In recent years, Emin County has steadily intensified ecological protection of Swan Lake Wetland. By improving the wetland-conservation system, carrying out regular patrols and monitoring, and strengthening public-awareness campaigns, it has created a safe, comfortable habitat for migratory birds. Today, Swan Lake is not only a key ecological landmark in northern Xinjiang but also a showcase window for Xinjiang’s conservation achievements.

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