National Parks of ChinaOverview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2019) |
| Name | 中国黄（渤）海候鸟栖息地（第二期） |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou |
| Nearby sites | Shengsi Islands 98km, Classical Gardens of Suzhou 135km, Mount Putuo 173km, Lake Tai 174km, The Grand Canal 187km Search nearby |
| Latitude, longitude | 31.51, 122.00 Google Maps |
| Themes | Wetland, Bird, Ocean, Coastal landforms |
About
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (中国黄（渤）海候鸟栖息地（第二期）) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 as a natural site.
Travel tips
Scope: the property lies along the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf coasts, in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Liaoning and other provinces. This page covers Phase II, which includes Chongming Dongtan at the eastern tip of Chongming island. Shanghai is the main gateway.
Getting there: from central Shanghai reach Chongming island by the Yangtze tunnel and bridge or by ferry. Dongtan is at the island's eastern end; continue by car or bus to the reserve.
Bird-watching: Dongtan has hides and boardwalks overlooking reed marsh and tidal flats.
Time: half a day to a day for Dongtan; add two or three more if you also visit Yancheng in Jiangsu.
Season: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the migration seasons, with the largest numbers. Winter brings wintering waterbirds; summer has few birds and many mosquitoes.
Tides: birds on the flats move with the tide, and are easier to see at close range around high tide; check a tide table.
Equipment: bring binoculars, a windproof jacket and insect repellent; the flats are open and offer almost no shelter.
Where to stay: guesthouses and hotels on Chongming, or return to Shanghai the same day.
Why it was inscribed
The World Heritage Committee found that it meets criterion (x) of the ten selection criteria:
(x) the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value.
Description (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Inscribed through Phase I (2019) and Phase II (2024) of a phased nomination process, the twelve component parts of the property are situated in the largest intertidal wetland system in the world and one of the most biologically diverse. The property supports more than 400 species of birds. It is located in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, and is an irreplaceable hub for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, its wetlands serving a unique ecological function as an indispensable stopover and staging sites during northward/southward migration. The Yellow Sea and the Gulf of Bohai are
Nearby
| World Heritage | Classical Gardens of Suzhou 135km, The Grand Canal 187km, West Lake, Hangzhou 226km, Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City 228km |
| National parks | Shengsi Islands 98km, Mount Putuo 173km, Lake Tai 174km, Mount Xuedou 217km |
| AAAAA attractions | Shanghai Science and Technology Museum 55km, Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower 57km, Shanghai Wild Animal Park 57km, Site of the First National Congress of the CPC 60km |
| AAAA attractions | Shanghai Dongtan Wetland Park 8km, Changxingdao Suburban Park 30km, Gongqing Forest Park 48km, Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park 49km |
| Historic cities | Shanghai 59km |
| Cities | Shanghai 59km, Suzhou 135km |