Published : 25/11/2021
Across China exist breathtaking "winter-exclusive" landscapes, among which Swan Lake in Ili, Xinjiang, is particularly remarkable.
Formed by a subterranean hot spring that remains ice-free year-round and enriched with abundant aquatic plants, the lake—with its ice-blue waters, snow-dusted trees, and graceful swans—creates a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Yet decades ago, this very site was merely a fishpond, devoid of any swans. So how did it transform into a protected swan sanctuary, and who has been guarding this winter paradise?
The magical Swan Spring that never freezes
Located within Yining County, Xinjiang, Swan Spring is a lake formed by subterranean hot springs. With abundant aquatic plants, it has become the main wintering habitat for swans in the Ili River Valley.
Every year from October to April of the following year, large numbers of swans come here to spend the winter.
The calm lake surface, playful swans, and the spectacular rime ice on the shore create a stunningly beautiful "winter-exclusive" scroll painting, making it a new hotspot for tourism in Xinjiang.
In fact, Xinjiang's Swan Spring is not a "purely natural" landscape, but a man-made swan habitat.
Decades ago, there were only streams and wetlands here, no lakes, and no swans. In the 1980s, villagers from Xahelek Tamu Village in Yining County developed aquaculture on the banks of the Ili River, building fishponds and reservoirs of various sizes.
Over a decade later, these ponds became overgrown with aquatic plants. Coupled with the water source being subterranean hot springs, they did not freeze in winter and gradually began to attract swans.
Read more: Top destinations for breathtaking rime ice in China
In the winter of 1993, Han Xinlin, a villager from Xiahelek Tamu in Xinjiang, noticed several large, unfamiliar birds in a wetland pond not far from his home.
After inspection by local forestry officials, they were identified as mute swans—a nationally protected species of secondary importance.
Han Xinlin did not disturb the swans, but instead fed them, voluntarily taking on the duty of a "guardian". The few swans stayed until March of the following year before leaving.
After that, they returned as expected every winter, and their numbers grew. The nearby villagers also came to regard the swans as "treasures".
From fishpond to sanctuary
In 2011, the Yining County government, with Swan Spring at its core, established the Swan Habitat Sanctuary, investing millions of RMB over the years to plant trees, add facilities such as surveillance equipment and protective fences, and arrange for caretakers to ensure the swans can safely get through the winter.
However, the conservation workers in Yining County do not feed the swans continuously, and also prevent villagers from feeding them at will, only providing food in extreme circumstances (such as severe weather), and normally let them forage for themselves.
Wang Jianhua, deputy director of the Yining Forestry and Grassland Bureau, explains, "The conservation of swans must be scientific; we cannot let care become captive breeding, otherwise it will weaken the swans' wild nature and reduce their ability to survive in the wild."
Moreover, in recent years, Yining County has invested over 20 million RMB to construct "Swan Avenue," pedestrian green belts, sewage treatment stations, waste processing plants, and supporting facilities, all aimed at improving the local ecological environment.
Over the years, the conservation work has had significant results; the number of swans wintering at Swan Spring has increased from just a few initially to several hundred.
Covering more than 480 mu, the swan habitat is one of China's largest winter habitats for mute swans.
Every winter, the dreamlike Swan Lake in Xinjiang draws in a large number of photography enthusiasts and visitors. However, while enjoying the view, please be mindful not to disturb the swans whilst they "holiday" here!
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