East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve

East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve is situated in Yueyang city, Central China’s Hunan province, which is renowned as the "China’s Birdwatching Capital". The reserve was established in 1982 and included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1992.

Dongting Lake is the second-largest freshwater lake in China and is known for its distinctive ecological environment, which has nurtured unique natural resources. The species found in the nature reserve are characterized by antiquity, uniqueness, and rarity.

East Dongting Lake plays a significant role in providing a habitat and resting place for wetland waterfowl in China. The reserve is home to hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, such as wild geese and ducks, and holds a crucial position in the regional species conservation network, including the East Asia Wild Geese and Ducks Migration Network and the East Asia-Australia Wading Birds Migration Network.

The reserve inhabits 361 species of birds, including 18 national first-class protected species and 64 national second-class protected species. In addition, there are 486 species of vascular plants; 117 species of fish, two are of national first-class protected species; 11 species of reptiles; 12 species of amphibians; and 31 mammal species.