Bird watching

Thirty minutes after emerging into the hustle-bustle world surrounding the Jishuitan Stop on Beijing Subway Line 2 and boarding the 345 (fast) bus at the Deshengmen Bus Station you will arrive at the Shahe bus stop in Changping District and at a chance to take a break from the fast lane of life.

If you take a walk along the Shahe River for about three kilometres (or enjoy a cool bicycle ride under the poplar-tree-lined south bank), you will come to an unexpected surprise in the form of a small lake frequented by all kinds of birds and waterfowl, Shahe Reservoir.

Shahe Reservoir, in southeastern Changping District, is a major feature along the 21-kilometre-long, 100-metre-wide Shahe River, which crosses Changping District and overflows a dam into Chaoyang District, where it flows into the Wenyuhe River.

In recent years, because of the improvement of the environment along the river, some migratory birds returning north from the South China stop here in spring, gradually enlivening the river's ambience. Since the Shahe River’s banks have not been developed by commercial activities, the tourists crowding its banks are relatively few in number, allowing the river to retain something of its natural state and features. Because of this, the river and the reservoir have become a "Garden of Eden" for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers in spring.

Whether viewing the birds or just sightseeing, the dam on the river is a good place to start your exploration. Standing on the dam, you can see the ever-changing river bank lined with green plants, farmers digging the earth, sheep herds feeding randomly on the riversides. Last year's remaining reeds wave in the soft breeze, and all this is overlooked by misty Fenghuang Shan (Phoenix Mountain) that looms in the distance forming a towering backdrop for a scene containing a solitary angler at the riverside.

There is a large island in the reservoir, accessible via a simple bridge. The island is usually called Bird Island by the bird-lovers because it is home to a lot of unnamed birds. A long, narrow arm stretches out from the island into the water: on it the willows form a small forest. The quiet forest surrounded by water, willows and sometimes birds is an ideal place for a picnic.

Wild ducks smartly nod their heads, catching young mosquitoes in the water; swans elegantly float on the water in a line; egrets lazily stand on the small islands and spread their wings to enjoy the sunshine. Suddenly, a pheasant swiftly runs across a road and disappears into some bushes. If you have a telescope or a long-lens camera, you can have a lot of fun. Some also enter the reed marshes to get close to these fairies of nature, but please be careful about your footsteps; you might disturb the lives of the creatures that lord over this domain.