A Grey Heron is resting at the marsh area of the Sanggan River, in the Datong city, Shanxi province, Nov 2 [Photo by Guozhong / dtnews.cn]

The city of Datong, in Shanxi province is becoming a sort of "filling station" for migratory fowl on their long journey southward, and, according to experts, its ecological and environmental arrangements have seen some huge improvements in recent years.

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That annual migration is a risky process for a bird's life, one that calls for some serious assistance outside, something that the people in Datong are aware of and want to help with.

The city has four national or provincial nature reserves -- Hengshan Mountain, Liulengshan, Lingqiu Black Stork, and Huliu River -- as well as five marsh parks, six forest parks, and eight suburban botanical gardens, which together certainly giving plenty of space for wildlife.

Tulin Marsh Reserve in Datong city, Nov 2 [Photo by Guozhong / dtnews.cn]

The city has also seen a large increase in its forested area, and each spring and autumn, these places come alive with wild animals, for example, the estimated 170 species in the Sanggan River area, 20 of which are under national protection, or Hengshan Mountain, where there are about 85 species, four under protection, or Huliu River, which has 174, with 17 of them under national protection, including the black stork, and white-tailed sea bird.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw