Zhalong Ecotourism Area, Heilongjiang province

Zhalong Ecotourism Area (扎龙生态旅游区zhā lóng shēng tài lǚ yóu qū）

Address: Zhalong Ecotourism Area, Tiefeng district, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province
Scenic spot level: 5A
Opening hours:
- Nov 1 to April 15: 8:30 am to 4:00 am (tickets sales stop at 3:00 pm)
- April 16 to Oct 31: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm (tickets sales stop at 4:00 pm)
Contact: +86 400-6870888
Ticket price:
Full-price ticket + shuttle bus: 75 yuan ($10.3)
Half-price ticket + shuttle bus: 52.5 yuan

Notes:
1. Children 1.2 meters (or under) in height, children aged 6 and under, seniors aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, active-duty military personnel, police officers, and firefighters can enter for free with valid ID.
2. Teenagers under 18, full-time university students with a bachelor's degree or lower, and seniors aged 60 and older can enjoy half-price tickets with valid ID.
3. Red-crowned crane wild training flight schedule:
- April 16 to Oct 31: 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm
- Nov 1 to April 15: 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm

The Zhalong Ecotourism Area, located 26 kilometers from downtown Qiqihar in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, spans 4.7 square kilometers. The area features picturesque wetland landscapes, with major attractions such as Zhalong Lake, Hexian Pond, He Yao Yun Tian (a sculpture), Lu He Tong Chun (a pavilion), and more. The site also includes the Wanghe Building, Waterfowl Island, Zhalong Wetland Museum, and Flying Area for Red-crowned Cranes, which are popular among visitors.

A key attraction is the red-crowned crane wild training and flight display, viewed from a platform. Every day, at scheduled times, beautiful cranes take flight under the vast blue sky, offering visitors both a visual treat and a symbolic blessing of good fortune. The park has continuously improved its facilities, including a visitor center, parking lots, hotels, and restaurants. New additions include water sightseeing routes and a shuttle service within the park.

The Zhalong National Nature Reserve, established in 1979, was the first protected area in China dedicated primarily to the conservation of the red-crowned crane. Covering an area of 210,000 hectares, it is located in the lower reaches of the Ural River in the Songnen Plain. As a typical wetland ecosystem, Zhalong serves as a vital bird breeding and habitat area in Northeast China.

Zhalong boasts rich biodiversity, with 468 species of higher plants and 269 species of birds. Among these, 41 species are under national protection, including eight species classified as first-level protected. The reserve is a major breeding ground for red-crowned cranes, with nearly 300 wild individuals, constituting a significant part of the global population of this endangered species.