[Video by Liu Chuan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Thousands of migratory swans have arrived in Rongcheng, a county-level city of Weihai, Shandong province, to spend winter this year.

Rongcheng is an important stopover for migratory birds. According to the Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve, each October, large numbers of migratory swans come from Siberia to winter in Rongcheng until March.

This year, over 4,000 swans have been recorded within the reserve, while the total number in Rongcheng has exceeded 6,000, reflecting the continued improvement of its ecological environment. The reserve offers favorable conditions for overwintering swans, with abundant coastal seaweed as a food source and relatively short periods of ice cover on local lakes.

In recent years, Rongcheng has increased protection of swan habitats by establishing nature reserves, providing supplemental feeding, and strengthening patrols. These measures have helped create a stable wintering environment for swans.