More than 1,000 swans are spending the winter at a wetland in Yining County, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, transforming the snowy landscape into a popular seasonal attraction.

As temperatures fall, the contrast between the swans’ bright white feathers and the snow-covered reeds and water creates a striking winter scene, drawing visitors from across the country. Since October last year, thousands of swans have arrived to overwinter at the site, around 95 percent of them mute swans.

Many tourists come to photograph the birds up close. One visitor said they captured “a lovely moment of two swans forming a heart”, adding that the vast snow-covered landscape was “quite breathtaking”.

The wetland’s appeal lies in its natural conditions. Fed by subterranean hot springs, Swan Spring Lake remains largely unfrozen even in winter, providing an important and stable habitat for mute swans in the region.

Source: China Central Television