Birding in Hefei City
With a total population of 5.7million, Hefei is the capital of Anhui Province in Eastern China and is the political, economic, and cultural centre of the province. Located in the central portion of the province between the Yangtze River and Huai River, Hefei covers 7,048km2 in land surface and enjoys a very important strategic position since 4th century. In its long history of over 2,000 years, lots of wars happened here and its name was changed many times by different conquers.
Sitting at China's north-south boundary line, Hefei experiences the subtropical humid monsoon climate featuring distinct seasons with cold winter and hot and rainy summer. Being chosen as one of the first three Garden Cities of China, Hefei has 40% of its urban area covered by trees and plants. Numerous parks inside the city are the paradise for birds. By now more than 200 bird species have been recorded in the city.
Some Important Birding Sites in Hefei
Dashushan Hill
Being about 10km from downtown Hefei, Dashushan is a dormant volcano with a sea elevation of 284 meters and covers 567 hectares. With about 400 hectares of forest, Dashushan is home to many birds. Here you have chance to see Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Chinese Pond Heron, Speckled Piculet, Grey-capped Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Brown-rumped Minivet, Black-naped Oriole, Azure-winged Magpie, Light-vented Bulbul, Pallas's Warbler, Silver-throated Tit, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Masked Laughingthrush, Red-billed Starling, Chinese Blackbird, Dusky Thrush, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Yellow-browed Bunting, etc.
Nanyanhu Lake
Nanyanhu Lake is about 10km from Downtown Hefei. The wetlands by the side of the lake attract lots of water birds to stay here including Common Teal, Spotted Redshank, Great Crested Grebe, and Common Moorhen. From the grasses and trees by the side of the lake, you have chances to see Yellow-bellied Tit, Silver-throated Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Light-vented Bulbul, Masked Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Starling, Chinese Blackbird, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, etc.
Hefei Botanical Garden
Located on the loop island in the Dongpu Reservoir in the east suburb of Hefei, it covers about 70 hectares with more than 2 million different plants. The good vegetation here makes it an ideal habitat for birds. Here we may see Pied Kingfisher, Azure-winged Magpie, Scaly Thrush, White-cheeked Starting, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Black Bulbul, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swinhoe's Minivet, Black-naped Oriole, Yellow-bellied Tit, Collared Finchbill, Light-vented Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Silver-throated Bushtit, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Masked Laughingthrush, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Asian Brown Flycatcher, etc.
Yicheng
Located in the north bank of Chaohu, Yicheng is an important part of Chaohu and about 10km from downtown Heifei. Either on the bank of Chaohu or in the lands nearby, you can see many birds including Falcated Duck, Common Shelduck, Brown Crake, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Pacific Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Yellow Bittern, Chinese Pond Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-faced Spoonbill, Peregrine Falcon, Chinese Grey Shrike, Collared Finchbill, Light-vented Bulbul, Silver-throated Tit, Daurian Starling, Oriental Greenfinch, etc.
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