The bird-watching ban imposed earlier this year to prevent the possible spread of bird flu put many twitchers' plans on hold.

But with the ban now lifted in China, it is not too late for a bird-watching trip in Beijing.

Many water areas around Beijing entice hundreds of wild birds. Many of these birds typically stay until late April.

As an outdoor leisure activity, bird-watching is not yet particularly popular among Beijing people. While the United States has an estimated bird-watching population of up to 60 million, in China specialists researching professionally and photographers tend to form the main body of watchers.

That makes Beijing's best spots all the more attractive to keen twitchers.

In addition to getting closer to nature, an bonus is that the activity doesn't require travel agencies.

In Beijing, lakes in Yanqing and Wuling Mountain are amongst the best spots to go.

Last week, an estimated 400 swans were found swimming in Yeya Lake (or Wild Duck Lake) in Yanqing County, in the north suburbs of Beijing.

The lake, covering 2,000 hectares of water area and 3,300 hectares of wetland and grassland, has recently been designated a protection zone for birds. It is a perfect habitat for birds, according to zoologists.

A large number of white swans first flew to the lake in 1996, and then gathered there every spring. This year has seen more than ever, according to observers.

Since 1997, trees and grassy vegetation has been planted around the lake to improve the environment and attract more birds.

In addition to swans, more than 150 species of birds including geese, cormorants, wild ducks, grey heron, great egret, Eurasian spoonbill and black cranes can been found at the lake.

The number of wild ducks in spring has in the past topped 10,000.

Yeya Lake is the largest wetland bird habitat near the city.

The best time to watch birds is between 6am and 7am and 6pm to 8pm, when birds leave for food or come back for rest.

Quadrangle courtyards were built nearby to offer accommodation and dining for birdwatchers.

Another good spot in Yanqing for bird-watching is Baihebao Lake. Around 50 million cubic metres of water from the lake was recently diverted to Miyun Reservoir to relieve Beijing's drinking water shortage. The water's lower level attracts lots of wild birds to look for food in the lake. Thousands of different birds come to the lake everyday and their dance in the sky presents a fantastic scene for visitors.

Wuling Mountain, about 200 kilometers east of Beijing, also boasts most of the mountain birds that can be found around Beijing.

They include Koklass pheasant, white-backed woodpecker, and healthy populations of Chinese leaf warblers, grey-sided thrush and Chinese narcissus flycatchers.

It is still a little cold now to visit the 3,200-metre high mountain. You can find snow on the mountain top. The birds stay much longer though and we suggest you wait until after April when it becomes warmer and many birds flock to the mountain.

For birdwatching tours, choose sunny and clear weather. Fog in the early morning or fog over lake areas sometimes presents a problem for watching.

How to get to Yeya Lake:

Drive along the Badaling Expressway and take Badaling Exit. Continue to Kangzhuang, where you can find some boards marking Yeya Lake Scenic Spot. The lake is about 5km ahead.

You can also take bus route 919 at Deshengmen in the North Second Ring Road to Kangzhuang.

Tel: 6913-1226

To get to Wuling Mountain:

Drive along Jingshun (Beijing-Shunyi) Road, Shunping (Shunyi-Pinggu) Road, to Jinhai Lake, Wangzhuang and then along Jinwei Road to the site. You can also take the special tour bus Dongzhimen-Wuling Mountain Special Line at Dongzhimen. The tour bus leaves Beijing at 9am every day.

(China Daily March 26, 2004)