Panjin - seagrass gives red tint to marshlands

China's "red sea", by the shore of Panjin, Liaoning province, is created by Suaeda salsa, a kind of seagrass. It has spread over the seashore shoals and expanded at the rate of about 50 meters a year deeper into Bohai Sea.

It is an amazing experience walking along the 680-meter-long trestle bridge right into the center of this sea of red, especially when the tide is at ebb and flow.

The red reeds, occasionally mingled with yellow and green ones, are colorfully vibrant during this time of the year. They are not cultivated, but are encouraged to grow by the high organic content in the water.

In the harsh cold of winter, the red will fade, but the weeds will be back in April when the seas turn warmer.

These wetlands, among the country's best preserved, are also the southernmost habitat of the red-crowned cranes, as well as the refuge of more than 200 species of birds. Visitors can charter a boat and paddle out in the midst of these creatures and wait patiently for that perfect shot.

If you go

One hour's drive from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, Panjin has regular shuttle buses to the red sea shore. Admission tickets to the pier and the bird park to watch the cranes are both 40 yuan ($6). There are many budget hotels in the city, charging between 100 to 200 yuan for a double room a night.