It's birdwatching season in Guangdong—welcome to "Birdtopia"! Every autumn and winter, flocks of migratory birds return to Guangdong, a key stop along the East Asia-Australia migratory route. Wetlands, coastlines, and forests come alive with these feathered visitors. Ready to explore the province's most photogenic birdwatching spots?
Greater Bay Area Central Wetland Park, Guangzhou (大湾区中央湿地公园)
Formerly known as Nansha Wetland, the park boasts Guangzhou's largest coastal wetland and is often called the city's "kidney." The park's lush forests and specially designed tidal mudflats provide ideal feeding grounds for birds. Each winter, nearly 100,000 migratory birds arrive here, with 186 species recorded. Under the warm winter sun, visitors can often spot nationally protected species such as the black-faced spoonbill, white spoonbill, white-tailed eagle, and black stork gracefully gliding overhead.
(Photo: Greater Bay Area Central Wetland Park)
Address: No. 1, Xingang Avenue, Wanqingsha Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou (广州市南沙区万顷沙镇新港大道1号)
More recommended spots in Guangzhou: Haizhu Wetland Park (海珠湿地公园), Liuhua Lake Park (流花湖公园), Zhujiang Park (珠江公园), Luhu Park (麓湖公园), Baiyun Mountain (白云山)
Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园)
Shenzhen Bay's coastal wetlands are home to abundant fish and shrimp, making it an ideal feeding ground for migratory birds. From October to May, tens of thousands of birds, including the black-faced spoonbill, tufted duck, and northern shoveler, stop here to rest and feed. Here, visitors can stroll along the coastline, enjoy the sea breeze, and watch the sunset alongside flocks of birds.
(Photo: ShenzhenLOOK)
Address: Shenzhen Bay Park, Binhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (深圳市南山区滨海大道深圳湾公园)
More recommended spots in Shenzhen: Guangdong Neilingding–Futian National Nature Reserve (广东内伶仃岛—福田国家级自然保护区), OCT National Wetland Park (华侨城国家湿地公园), Guanlan River Wetland Park (观澜河湿地公园), Futian Mangrove Ecological Park (福田红树林生态公园)
Bird's Paradise National Wetland Park, Jiangmen (小鸟天堂国家湿地公园)
Celebrated in renowned writer Ba Jin's prose, Bird's Paradise is one of South China's best-known birdwatching sites, home to the region's largest heron breeding colony. Common species include night herons, great egrets, grey herons, cattle egrets, red-whiskered bulbuls, spotted doves, black-collared starlings, and fork-tailed sunbirds, among others.
(Photo: Jiangmen Fabu)
A centuries-old water banyan stands at the heart of the park, its expanded canopy now covering around 13,000 square meters and providing shelter for tens of thousands of birds. Visitors can enjoy boat tours along the river, taking in the tranquil, bird-filled scenery that inspired Ba Jin's "Bird Paradise."
Address: No. 22, Yinhu Avenue Middle, Xinhui District, Jiangmen (江门市新会区银湖大道中22号)
More recommended spots in Jiangmen: Yinhuwan Wetland Park (银湖湾湿地公园), Nantan Island (南坦岛), Zhenhaiwan Mangrove National Wetland Park (镇海湾红树林国家湿地公园), Gulao Waterfront (古劳水乡)
Yakou Village, Zhongshan (崖口村)
Nestled in Nanlang Sub-district, Yakou Village is a popular birdwatching spot, where lush mangroves, fish ponds, rice fields, and lotus ponds create ideal habitats for crakes, buntings, and various egrets. Large flocks of birds often take to the skies above the tidal flats, creating a stunning view of the countryside.
(Photo: Zhongshan Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau)
Address: Yakou Village, Nanlang Sub-district, Zhongshan (中山市南朗街道崖口村)
More recommended spots in Zhongshan: Cuiheng National Wetland Park (翠亨国家湿地公园), Zhongshan Talent Park (中山人才公园), Zimaling Park (紫马岭公园), Yixian Lake Park (逸仙湖公园)
Xiashan Seaside Promenade, Zhanjiang (霞山观海长廊)
Zhanjiang is home to China's largest mangrove reserve and Guangdong's longest coastline. Here, expansive mangrove forests line the shore, providing perfect habitats for egrets and other migratory birds. Along the Xiashan Seaside Promenade, the dense greenery meets the city skyline, while egrets and black-headed gulls dart across the blue waters. The mangrove boardwalk is especially enchanting at sunset, as birds return to roost and their calls fill the air along the coast.
(Photo: Zhanjiang Daily)
(Photo: Xiashan Fabu)
Address: No. 99, Guanhai Road, Haibin Sub-district, Xiashan District, Zhanjiang (湛江市霞山区海滨街道观海路99号)
More recommended spots in Zhanjiang: Jinshawan Mangrove Science Base (湛江金沙湾红树林科普基地), Binhu Wetland Park (滨湖湿地公园), Jiulongshan Mangrove National Wetland Park (九龙山红树林国家湿地公园), Jinniu Island (金牛岛), Nanping Island (南屏岛)
Author | Huang Xinying
Poster | Lai Meiya
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
