
In Kunming, every cold winter, we look forward to the arrival of seagulls. On the banks of Dianchi Lake and above the dam, crowds of people dance with seagulls, creating an extraordinary scenery. Every year from late October to early November, red billed gulls overwinter in Kunming. At this time, their presence can be seen in Yunnan Ethnic Village. Until the end of March to early April of the following year, they will move away in groups and return to their breeding grounds. Today, we recommend several good places to see seagulls:
(1) Haigeng Park
Haigeng Park is located at 1318 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, on the east bank of Dianchi Lake. It was founded in 1961 and covers an area of about 235.3 acres. It is a new type of urban park that integrates historical culture, tourism and vacation, and sports and leisure. It is located on the east bank of Dianchi Lake and adjacent to the Haigeng Dam. This is one of the habitats of the red billed gull in winter, where tourists can observe seagulls up close and take a boat tour of Dianchi Lake. 1. Natural Environment: Haigeng Park is located in the subtropical plateau monsoon climate zone, with southwest winds prevailing year-round and a maximum average wind speed of 5 meters per second. Climate change is mainly controlled by the alternation of southwest monsoons and tropical continental air masses. The lowest temperature in winter in the Dianchi Lake Basin is not less than 7 ℃, and the highest temperature in summer is not more than 20 ℃. The temperature difference between winter and summer is small. Biodiversity is a great place for bird watching, especially for red billed gulls. Every November, thousands of red billed gulls fly from Siberia to winter and do not return until April of the following year. Tourists can observe and feed these beautiful birds up close in places such as Dianchi Haigeng Park, Cuihu Park, and Daguanlou Park. In addition to the red billed gull, Haigeng Park also has other rare bird species such as the white fronted goose, white spoonbill, white breasted jade, spotted breasted sandpiper, and painted ibis. These bird species include national second-class protected animals and white breasted jade, as well as national first-class key protected animal painted ibis. Plant: Haigeng Park is famous for its ancient eucalyptus trees. These eucalyptus trees were planted in 1896 and have a history of over 100 years, becoming a major wonder of the park. These ancient eucalyptus trees are tall, robust, adaptable, and grow rapidly, making them an important component of the park ecosystem. In addition, Haigeng Park also has thousands of willow trees and hydrangeas and other plants. It is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China and the largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province, known as the "Pearl of the Plateau". Dianchi Lake is located in the southwest suburbs of Kunming City, with an elevation of 1886 meters above sea level. It has a maximum length of 36.5 kilometers from north to south and a maximum width of 12.8 kilometers from east to west. The lake shoreline is 199.5 kilometers long, with an average depth of 5 meters and a maximum depth of 8 meters. It has a water storage capacity of about 1.3 billion cubic meters, a total area of 309.5 square kilometers, and a drainage basin of 2920 square kilometers. Wangyun Shipyard: Wangyun Shipyard (also known as Xincan Wharf) in Haigeng Park is located in the center of the park, at the original sea viewing corridor. There are various types of boats available here, including large boats, small boats, and speedboats, with a ticket price of 100 yuan per person. The route departs from Haigeng Park, passes through Xishan Cableway and Longwang Temple, and finally returns to Huiwan. Tourists can enjoy the scenery of Dianchi Lake, Xishan Longmen, Sleeping Beauty and other attractions. Large cruise ships can accommodate up to 120 people with a tour time of approximately 40 minutes, small cruise ships can accommodate around 10 people with a tour time of approximately 30 minutes, and speedboats can accommodate 5-8 people with a tour time of approximately 12 minutes. The operating time is from 9:00-17:30, approximately one hour per trip, and will be adjusted according to the number of tourists.
1.Basic Overview:
- Geographic Location: Starting from the ship lock in the east and ending at Yongchang Wetland in the west, it is located at 24 ° 58'26 "north latitude and 102 ° 39'02" east longitude in the Haigeng area of Dianchi National Tourism Resort in Kunming, adjacent to the Dianchi Lake shore to the south and the Dianchi Grass Sea to the west. Across the lake, one can enjoy a distant view of Xishan Forest Park06>
- Scale and Size: The total length is over 2400 meters, the average width of the dam surface is 16 meters, and the square area of the embankment platform is 40000 square meters.
- Historical Evolution: Its predecessor was the "Grass Sea Embankment" built on the soft foundation of the lake shore in the 1960s. At that time, the method of "throwing stones and sinking ships" was used for construction, leaving hidden dangers in the dam foundation and body, which once caused a dangerous situation. In 1992, the Haigeng Dam was officially placed under the management of the Dianchi Lake Resort Management Committee. After multiple renovation projects, the area has doubled and the water quality has greatly improved, becoming what it is today. 2. Natural Landscape:
- Dianchi Lake Scenery: The dam is adjacent to Dianchi Lake, which is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China and the largest in the southwest region. The lake shoreline is over 150km long, with an average depth of about 5m and a maximum depth of about 8m. Standing on the Haigeng Dam, one can take in the vast scenery of Dianchi Lake, with shimmering waves and enchanting radiance under the sunshine. The beautiful scenery of Xishan Mountain: Looking west from the Haigeng Dam, one can see the stunning views of Xishan Scenic Area. The West Mountain is composed of Biji Mountain, Huating Mountain, Taihua Mountain, Luohan Mountain, Guabang Mountain and other peaks. The mountains are rolling, and its outline is like a reclining Buddha, or a lying young girl. It sets off with Dianchi Lake, forming a beautiful landscape picture. There are many wetland parks around Dian around Haigeng Dam, with rich vegetation and beautiful ecological environment. Here, plants such as reeds, cattails, poplar trees, and willow trees grow, forming a unique wetland ecosystem that provides habitats and breeding grounds for numerous birds and fish.
3. Cultural Landscape:
- Cultural Park: Yunnan Ethnic Village is located on the shore of Dianchi Lake, adjacent to the Haigeng Dam, and is a national 4A level tourist attraction with an area of about 89 hectares. It showcases the social and cultural customs of the 26 ethnic groups in Yunnan and is an important window to understand and experience Yunnan's ethnic culture.
- Sports Winter Training Base: Kunming Haigeng The sports training base is located on the east side of Haigeng Dam, with an altitude of 1888 meters and an area of approximately 410000 square meters. Since its opening in 1975, it has become a football led facility, A comprehensive and multifunctional high-altitude training base that combines multiple sports
- Sculptures and landscape elements: After multiple renovations, Haigeng Dam has added a large number of cultural and historical landscape elements, including various sculptures, local themed cultural exhibitions, lighting engineering, and high-tech applications, enhancing the cultural connotation and ornamental value of the dam
4. Featured activities:
- Observing Red billed Gulls: Since 1985, every winter and spring season, a large number of Red billed Gulls from Siberia come to Kunming for winter, and Haigeng Dam has become a place for viewing and feeding. A popular spot for red billed gulls. Tourists can interact intimately with seagulls here, feed and take photos, and experience the beautiful time of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Leisure and entertainment: The dam is wide and flat, making it a great place for local people to have picnics, camp, and take walks. In addition, there are often cultural performances, sports events, etc. held here, such as marathon races, music festivals, etc., providing tourists with a rich and colorful leisure and entertainment experience.
(3) Cuihu Park
Cuihu Park is a park located in the center of Kunming city with beautiful environment and is one of the popular places for watching seagulls. Surrounded by scenic spots such as the military academy of Yunnan Army, you can feel the historical and cultural charm while watching gulls. Natural landscape:
- <196: In spring, the garden is full of flowers, and all kinds of flowers compete to open and compete for beauty; In summer, lotus flowers bloom in the lake, and the lotus fields are filled with the fragrance of lotus, bringing a hint of coolness to tourists; In autumn, golden ginkgo leaves fall, laying a layer of golden carpet on the park and creating a romantic atmosphere; In winter, thousands of red billed gulls fly from Siberia to Kunming for the winter, and some of them will inhabit Cuihu Lake. They play and forage on the lake surface, adding infinite vitality and interest to Cuihu Lake. 2. Cultural landscape:
- Historical buildings: There are two long embankments, Ruan and Tang, intersecting in the center of the park in the shape of a "+", dividing the entire lake into four parts. Ruan Causeway was built by Yunnan Governor Ruan Yuan during the Daoguang period, imitating the beauty of West Lake's "Su Causeway". Tang Causeway was built with funding from Tang Jiyao during the Republic of China period. In addition, there are Qing Dynasty buildings such as Huxin Pavilion, Guanyu Tower, Lianhua Zen Temple, etc. These buildings have exquisite shapes, flying eaves and yellow tiles, and have high artistic value.
- Cultural activity venues: Various cultural activities are often held here, such as lotus exhibitions, drama and art festivals, etc. During the Lotus Exhibition, various varieties of lotus and water lilies will be exhibited in the park. Exquisite check-in spots will also be arranged, and a variety of colorful activities will be held, such as drama performances, folk music concerts, cultural parades, etc., attracting many citizens and tourists to come and watch. Cultural and educational bases: In 2004, Cuihu Park was awarded the title of "Yunnan Province Science Popularization Education Base", and in 2023, it was awarded the title of "Kunming Wuhua District Science Popularization Education Base". In the same year, it was also identified as the first batch of historical and cultural parks in Kunming, and is an important place for people to understand and learn about Kunming's history, culture, and natural science knowledge.3. Leisure and entertainment:
- Walking and fitness: The winding paths and lush greenery in the park are perfect for people to take leisurely walks A great place to exercise. Every morning and evening, many citizens come here to run, practice Tai Chi, and dance square dances, enjoying the joy of sports. Feeding seagulls: Winter is the best season to observe and feed red billed gulls. Tourists can buy gull food by the lake, interact closely with seagulls, and experience the beautiful time of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Cruise experience: The park also provides cruise services, where tourists can take a boat tour of Cuihu, enjoy the scenery of the lake and mountains, and relax their body and mind
(IV) Daguan Park
Daguan Park is located by the Dianchi Lake and is a national AAAA level tourist scenic spot. The weather is getting colder, and the number of red billed gulls is increasing. Daguan Park will also become a place for red billed gulls to rest and settle. 1. Park layout:
- Near Huapu: It is the core tourist area of the park, which has well preserved the classical garden architecture group built since the 29th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, such as the square octagonal through the center double eaved gatehouse, the single eaved Xieshan carved doors and windows of the Cuigeng Hall, Guanjia Hall, Chengbi Hall and other ancient buildings, as well as the uniquely shaped Mumeng Pavilion, Yongyue Pavilion and the lakeside corridor, reflecting the ancient architectural style of the Qing Dynasty in China and the local ethnic groups in Yunnan. Architectural Features
- Xiyuan: The park has lake embankments, lotus ponds, and exquisite pavilions and towers, which are elegantly matched and can also be accessed by boat. Yu Enxi, the grandfather of Yu Chengqing, once lived here, which is also the location of his former residence.
- The outer building of the building is an important tourist area that complements the Grand View Tower. Here, you can enjoy the scenery of Dianchi Lake and the park from different angles.
2. Main attractions:
- The Grand View Tower: It is the most important landscape in the park, built by the water, with three floors and many excellent inscriptions and couplets. Climbing up to the Grand View Tower, one can overlook the Western Hills and Dianchi Lake, taking in the panoramic view of the lake and mountains, making one feel refreshed and happy. It is named after facing Dianchi Lake, overlooking Xishan Mountain from afar, and taking in the scenery of the lake and mountains. It is also known as the "Famous Chinese Building" due to the long couplet of Sun Zhanweng. Ginkgo Avenue: In late autumn, the leaves of ginkgo trees on the avenue turn from green to yellow, eventually presenting a dazzling golden color. Walking in it, you can feel the beauty of autumn and be a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Lotus Pond: In summer, the lotus pond is lush and vibrant, with lotus flowers blooming and fragrant; In autumn, withered lotus leaves and withered lotus pods still stand tall, creating a peaceful and profound beauty. Chrysanthemum Exhibition: During the Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holidays every year, the park holds a chrysanthemum exhibition, where various chrysanthemums compete for beauty, with flower clusters and sculptures of different shapes, attracting many tourists to come and admire. Features of the park include rockeries, pavilions, bridges, and flowing streams. Creating an elegant and timeless atmosphere, fully showcasing the unique features of "Nine Summer Hibiscus, Three Spring Willow Trees" and "Ocean View".
- Amusement and Leisure: The park has an amusement park with facilities such as jumping machines, Ferris wheels, and bumper cars, Suitable for parent-child play. In addition, there are also restaurants, convenience stores and other service facilities around the park, providing convenience for tourists. Seagull viewing destination: From October to March of the following year, Siberian red billed gulls come here for winter, and the park is crowded with tourists who come to see and feed the seagulls, presenting a beautiful scenery of harmonious coexistence between people and seagulls. Haihong Wetland Park is located on the north bank of Dianchi Lake and the west side of the mouth of Panlong River in Kunming City. A natural leisure park covering an area of 383 acres.
1. Scenic Area Features:
- Ecological Landscape: The park is planted with a large number of Metasequoia trees, which display different colors throughout the year and are the most eye-catching protagonists.
. In winter, the Haihong Wetland Park is filled with colorful forests, with colorful trees, blue lake water, and white seagulls forming a beautiful picture
- Amusement Facilities: The park has a variety of recreational facilities, including rowing, cycling, fishing, and other activities. There are also large areas of grassland where tents can be set up.
2. Amusement Guide:
- Watching seagulls: Haihong Wetland Park is a beautiful and sparsely populated place by Dianchi Lake, where visitors can watch seagulls or feed them.
- Rowing: There are rowing activities in the park, where visitors can row boats through the water.Shanlin, enjoy the beautiful scenery
- Photography: There are many places in the park that are suitable for taking photos, such as the Shuishan forest, the edge of Dianchi Lake, etc. Tourists can take beautiful photos here
3 Traffic Guide:
- Bus: You can take the K25 bus directly in Kunming city; You can also take bus routes 24, 44, 73, 94, 135, or 233 to Haigeng Park, and then walk 1.5 kilometers east from the shore of Haigeng Park to reach
- Subway: Take Metro Line 5 to Fubao Station, exit from Exit B, and walk 1.2 kilometers to reach
- Self driving: The park has two parking lots at the northeast and north gates, and self driving tourists can freely choose
(VI) Huanxi Bridge403>
Kunming Huanxi Bridge is located on the side of Daguan Road in Xishan District, Kunming City. It is a bridge that spans the Daguan River. On the banks of the Daguan Lake, there is a golden autumn charm of Dianpu. Seagulls fly together under the arch bridge, and the river is wide with seagulls gathering, It is an excellent place to observe seagulls in the city. Bridge Overview: The Huanxi Bridge has a beautiful shape and is a stone arch bridge with certain historical and cultural value. The bridge body is strong, the structure is stable, and it can carry a certain amount of traffic flow and pedestrian weight. The surrounding transportation is convenient, with multiple bus routes passing through and close to the Panjiawan subway station on Line 3, making it easy for citizens and tourists to travel. The surrounding environment is picturesque on both sides of the riverbank, with a large number of trees and flowers planted, and the scenery varies throughout the four seasons. In autumn, the leaves of Dianpu trees turn yellow, complementing seagulls and arch bridges to create a romantic scene. In addition, this place is close to a vegetable market, where the strong fireworks and flying red billed gulls complement each other, creating a unique and interesting atmosphere.
- Ecological Landscape: The park is planted with a large number of Metasequoia trees, which display different colors throughout the year and are the most eye-catching protagonists.
- Watching seagulls: Huanxi Bridge is one of the main places in Kunming city to observe, film, and feed red billed gulls.. Every winter, thousands of red billed gulls fly from Siberia to Kunming, and some of them gather on the Daguan River near the Huanxi Bridge. They soar or rest on the lake surface, shore platforms, wooden bridges, and pavilions, attracting many passersby to stop and watch and feed, forming a unique landscape of "human seagull dance". Leisure and entertainment: This is a great place for citizens to take a leisurely stroll along the riverbank, enjoying the beautiful natural scenery and urban landscape, and experiencing the unique charm of Kunming. In addition, there are some parks and leisure squares in the surrounding area, providing citizens with more leisure and entertainment choices. Every winter, the Zhuantang Park attracts many red billed gulls to fly here and roost and forage. Tourists can observe red billed gulls up close here and experience the beautiful atmosphere of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. In addition, there are scenic spots such as Daguan Park and Cuihu Park around the park, which tourists can visit together
(8) Dianchi Lake Cruise
It is a perfect place to take a boat tour of Dianchi Lake and see seagulls. When the weather is clear, under the sunshine, flocks of seagulls flutter on the shimmering surface of Dianchi Lake, becoming the most dazzling warm color in the winter of Chuncheng. 1. Boarding location: Xincan Pier and Haigengxi Pier. Xincan Wharf is located at the original seaside promenade in the center of the park. There are three types of boats available here: large boats, small boats, and speedboats, with a ticket price of 100 yuan per person. Haigeng West Pier is located at 1318 Dianchi Road, Xishan District, Kunming City, where you can take a luxury cruise or