Every autumn and winter, millions of migratory birds gather in the Yellow River Delta in Dongying, East China's Shandong province. Locals refer to the breathtaking scene — with vast flocks sweeping across the wetlands in rolling, wave-like formations—as "bird waves".

Baikal teals fly over the Yellow River. [Photo/WeChat account: hhkbhq]

Layer upon layer of birds in flight creates a breathtaking spectacle. [Photo/WeChat account: hhkbhq]

Today, the spectacle is not only a natural wonder, but also a new engine for Dongying's tourism transformation.

During the 2025-26 birdwatching season from November to January, the Yellow River estuary tourist area received about 146,800 tourists, up 16.78 percent year on year. Due to stronger ecological protection efforts, rare species such as Oriental white storks, red-crowned cranes and Saunders's gulls have continued to see their numbers rise, attracting more birdwatchers and photographers.

Photographers watch migratory birds at the Yellow River Estuary. [Photo/WeChat account: hhkbhq]

In 2025, monitoring recorded 233 nests and 536 Oriental white storks, both record highs. The estuary also hosted 296 wintering red-crowned cranes and has become the species' southernmost wild breeding site.

Red-crowned cranes display its graceful form. [Photo/WeChat account: hhkbhq]

Dongying has launched four premium birdwatching routes, 19 long-distance viewing sites and an intelligent monitoring system, turning birdwatching into a reliable eco-tourism attraction. The sector has created more than 2,000 related jobs.

Backed by viral social media attention and the Yellow River Estuary International Birdwatching Season, Dongying is rewriting its growth story through migratory birds.

People stop to watch flocks of birds in flight. [Photo/WeChat account: hhkbhq]