Водно-болотный парк «Лебединый источник»

The Swan Spring Wetland Park lies on the north bank of the Ili River in Yingtamu Township, within easy reach of Yining. Unlike most wetlands in the region, this one is fed by geothermal springs that keep the water above freezing through the entire winter, creating an unusual cold-season refuge for waterbirds.

The signature residents are whooper swans, which began wintering here in growing numbers from the late twentieth century onward as locals began protecting the springs. Today hundreds of swans gather between November and March, joined by other waterfowl that take advantage of the open water when surrounding wetlands have frozen solid. Mist rising from the warm springs in sub-zero air gives the park an ethereal, almost cinematic quality that draws photographers from across China.

Boardwalk trails and observation platforms ring the main pools, allowing close-up viewing without disturbing the birds. A small visitor center explains the ecology of the springs and the seasonal rhythm of the swans. The park's compact size means a visit typically lasts a couple of hours.

For independent travelers, the best window is the deep winter months, when the contrast between steam, ice, and white plumage is most dramatic. Spring and autumn bring fewer swans but a wider variety of migratory waterfowl, and the surrounding farmland of the Ili River Valley is itself scenic. The site pairs naturally with other rural stops on a winter loop out of Yining, and the warm-spring microclimate is a reminder of the geothermal activity that runs beneath this stretch of the valley.