Photo taken on September 7, 2009 shows a black stork soaring on the wetland of Heihe
River basin, Gaotai County, Zhangye, Gansu Province. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

With the strengthening of protection over wetland, the basin of the second largest inland river - Heihe River has seen the thriving of more and more rare birds. The wetland formed in the Heihe River basin covers 3,160,000 mu in Zhangye City, Gansu. Starting from 2008, the government of Zhangye has begun to implement the protection project of wetland, aiming at building Heihe River wetland into a national nature reserve.

An egret is looking for food in the wetland of Heihe River basin, Gaotai County, Zhangye,
Gansu Province. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

A flock of egrets are flying over the wetland in Heihe River basin, Gaotai County, Zhangye,
Gansu Province. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

A flock of egrets are about to fly over the wetland in Heihe River basin, Gaotai County, Zhangye,
Gansu Province. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

Two herns rest on the wetland in Heihe River basin, Gaotai County,
Zhangye, Gansu Province. [Photo: Xinhuanet]