6 Days Eastern China Birding Tour - Itinerary

Interested in this tour? Email us at abf2026@alpinebirding.com to learn more.

6 Days Eastern China Birding Tour

Located along China’s eastern migratory flyway, Poyang Lake and the Yellow Sea coastal wetlands of Yancheng are among the country’s most important wintering grounds for cranes and waterbirds. Vast freshwater lakes, marshes, tidal flats, reedbeds, and coastal wetlands create a rich mosaic of habitats that support enormous numbers of migratory birds each winter. These internationally significant wetlands are especially renowned for hosting some of the world’s rarest and most iconic crane species, making them premier destinations for winter birding in East Asia.

This itinerary combines two of China’s finest crane-watching regions: Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province and Yancheng along the Yellow Sea coast in Jiangsu Province. At Poyang Lake, we focus on the remarkable diversity of wintering cranes, including Siberian Crane, White-naped Crane, Common Crane, and Hooded Crane, alongside a wide variety of waterfowl, geese, storks, raptors, and passerines such as Baer's Pochard, Oriental Stork, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Swan Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Bewick's Swan, Falcated Duck, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pied Kingfisher, Chinese Penduline Tit, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Grey-backed Thrush, and Yellow-billed Grosbeak. We then continue to Yancheng, part of the UNESCO-listed “Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China,” where our primary target is the elegant Red-crowned Crane. Additional specialties may include Hooded Crane, Common Crane, Sandhill Crane, Smew, Goosander, Hen Harrier, Reed Parrotbill, Chinese Grey Shrike, White-cheeked Starling, Buff-bellied Pipit, Yellow-throated Bunting, and Rustic Bunting, among many others.

Tour Info Sheet

Highlight Birds	Siberian Crane, White-naped Crane, Common Crane, Hooded Crane, Baer's Pochard, Oriental Stork, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Swan Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Bewick's Swan, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Falcated Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Brown Crake, Spotted Redshank, Common Snipe, Herring Gull, Rufous Turtle Dove, Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Tit, Chinese Penduline Tit, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Plain Prinia, Black-collared Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Grey-backed Thrush, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Water Pipit, Black-faced Bunting, Little Bunting, Red-crowned Crane, Sandhill Crane, Whooper Swan, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Smew, Goosander, Northern Lapwing, Black-winged Kite, Hen Harrier, Eastern Buzzard, Chinese Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Reed Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Buff-bellied Pipit, Yellow-throated Bunting, Rustic Bunting,etc.
Species to Expected	about 120
Photography opportunities	Birding focused but with some good photography chances
Habitats Covered	Subtropical forests, woodlands, wetlands, coast
Expected Climate	Cool in the morning, windy and cold on the coast and in the Poyang Lake area
Physical Requirements	Mostly easy, demanding but optional on certain parts
Accommodation	Very comfortable
Transportation	vehicle

Gallery

Dates & Prices

Dates	Booking State	Price for ABF	Single Supplement	Group Size	Guide
Nov 30–Dec 5, 2026	Open for Booking	2,100USD/pax 1,800 USD/pax	210 USD/pax	8-12	Local Guide

Dates

Booking State

Price for ABF

Single Supplement

Group Size

Guide

Nov 30–Dec 5, 2026

Open for Booking

2,100USD/pax

1,800 USD/pax

210 USD/pax

8-12

Local Guide

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The cost includes the following:

1. Service of an English-speaking bird guide throughout the whole trip.

2. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pickup and drop-off at the airports.

3. Hotel stays from the first night to the last night, two people occupy one twin-bed room on a sharing basis at nice 3 or 4-star hotels in cities and local best guesthouses in remote areas.

4. Meals at local popular restaurants from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last day. Picnic lunches when needed.

5. Simple western breakfast whenever possible.

6. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary include birding hides and shuttle buses.

7. Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.

8. China domestic travel insurance.

9. Service of all logistic supports.

The cost does not include the following:

1. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages during meals.

2. Extra charges are due to changes in the itinerary from the client side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding, such as natural disasters and governmental policy changes.

3. Discretionary tips to local guides and drivers.

4. All personal expenses, such as laundry service.

5. Airfare to the place where our trip starts and from the place where our trip ends.

6. Service fees and commission fees that are charged by banks and other third-party companies while making the trip payment to AlpineBirding’s banking and financial accounts.

7. Any program not listed in the itinerary.

Itinerary

Tour Map

Day 1: Nanchang to Poyang Lake

Our journey begins at Nanchang Airport. After meeting your AlpineBirding guide, drive directly to Poyang Lake.

Day 2-3: Poyang Lake

We enjoy two full days of birding at Poyang Lake. Poyang Lake is a vast area that consists of numerous permanent and seasonal lakes, rivers, inland wetlands, and marshes, which make it one of the most important wintering grounds for crane species as well as some other rare and endangered birds. We have a full day here to maximize our chances of seeing the four stunning crane species namely Siberian Crane, White-naped Crane, Common Crane, Hooded Crane. In the meantime, we likely encounter a big variety of other wonderful local species including Baer's Pochard, Oriental Stork, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Swan Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Bewick's Swan, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Falcated Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Brown Crake, Spotted Redshank, Common Snipe, Herring Gull, Rufous Turtle Dove, Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Tit, Chinese Penduline Tit, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Plain Prinia, Black-collared Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Grey-backed Thrush, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Water Pipit, Black-faced Bunting, Little Bunting, etc.

Day 4: Poyang Lake to Yancheng

In the morning, we drive about two hours to NanchangAirport for a flight to Shanghai, followed by a five-hour drive to Yancheng.

Day 5: Yancheng

Not long ago in July 2019, "Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I)" was rated as a world nature heritage which marked China's first Coastal Wetland World Heritage Site, the primary mission is to protect the rare wildlife including the elegant Red-crowned Crane and the tidal flat-wetland system that all the wildlife rely on.

Yancheng is an irreplaceable part of the vast coastal wetland, and it is known as one of the best places for crane watching. Here we mainly focus on four kinds of crane species while Red-crowned Crane enjoys a top priority. We also look for Hooded Crane, Common Crane, and Sandhill Crane. We also have enough time to search for other specials that stage in the area, such as Oriental Stork, Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Swan Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Smew, Goosander, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-winged Kite, Hen Harrier, Eastern Buzzard, Chinese Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, Reed Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, White-cheeked Starling, Buff-bellied Pipit, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Bunting, Rustic Bunting, etc.

Day 6: Yancheng to Shanghai

This morning we go to the forest to try our targets again before driving to Shanghai. After Birding, we drive back to Shanghai Airport. TheAlpineBirding services conclude.

Guide(s)

Bella Zhang

Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grew up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom's garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients.

Wang

Wang, born in 1998, is a passionate wildlife guide with strong field experience across Sichuan and Qinghai. As a professional English-speaking mammal guide and a junior-level birding guide, he has assisted and led trips focused on some of China’s most iconic and elusive species. Wang has developed a deep understanding of the region’s habitats, wildlife behavior, and seasonal patterns through years of hands-on work in the field. He is particularly enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with international travelers and helping them spot rare species in the wild. Among all the animals he has encountered, the Blue Eared Pheasant remains his personal favorite for its striking appearance and captivating presence. Wang is dedicated, friendly, and always eager to help guests enjoy a rich and memorable nature experience in western China.

Trip Details, Dates, Prices, etc.