This summer, Ordos' Bojiang Lake has become a paradise for relict gulls.

Since March, over 8,000 of these endangered birds have flown more than 1,500 kilometers from Bohai Bay to nest and breed here, with 1,801 nests recorded – 4.5 times more than last year.

Relict gulls, listed as a Class I nationally protected species in China, are highly sensitive to their environment. They nest on lake islands, relying on rich aquatic food sources and minimal human disturbance – earning them the title “the most fragile birds on the plateau”.

In 1990, experts discovered the world's largest known relict gull breeding colony around Bojiang Lake and named it the Ordos Relict Gull population. By 1998, nearly 15,000 gulls had nested in 3,594 nests. The area was designated a national nature reserve in 2001 and listed as a Wetland of International Importance in 2002. It remains the world's only wetland focused on conserving relict gulls and their habitats.

To protect these rare species, reviving Bojiang Lake became a citywide mission. Authorities tackled water scarcity by clearing upstream rivers, collecting seasonal rain, introducing Yellow River water, and treating nearby coal mine drainage. Today, the lake receives 24,000 cubic meters of water daily, covering nearly 10 square kilometers.

The reserve now hosts seven Class I and 25 Class II nationally protected bird species, along with 115 total bird species and tens of thousands of individuals annually. A wide range of grassland flora and fauna also thrives, reflecting the success of ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.