Lhalu Wetland

Being an urban natural wetland with the highest altitude and largest acreage in the world, the Lhalu Wetland as China's unique urban natural inland wetland has improved its conditions as the government has allocated enough fund and launched efficient measures. Wild birds such as brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks and bar-headed geese come here and even black-necked crane as the national first-class protection animal can be seen in Lhalu Wetland.

Presently, over 2,000 migrant birds are living through winter in Lhalu Wetland, increasing from only about 200 birds 10 years ago and hitting a record high, sources from an official of Lhalu Wetland Management Bureau.

In recent years, related regional departments put more efforts on the protection of Lhalu Wetland which greatly improved its environment with higher water coverage rate and larger plant coverage areas.

Some of migrant birds, such as black-necked crane, tadorna ferruginea and bar-headed goose came to Lhalu Wetland to spend their winter in succession since the beginning of October, 2009. Meanwhile, rare fulica atra flew to Lhalu Wetland at the end of 2009 for the first time and became the new-comer of Lhalu Wetland.

According to the official of Lhalu Wetland Management Bureau, the management bureau has furthered its efforts on the protection of migrant birds by the end of last year and purchased over 3,000 yuan grain to feed them. Besides, local citizens in Lhasa joined the protection team by themselves and as soon as they found any injured birds, they would send to the management bureau for treatment.

If you are interested in bird watching,the best time in the day is early morning and evening (because most birds are more active within 2 hours after sunrise and before sunset). In Lhasa, from January to March is the best season for bird watch in general.