Zhalong Nature Reserve

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Zhalong Nature Reserve ( Simplified Chinese: 扎龙国家级自然保护区; Traditional Chinese: 扎龍國家級自然保護區; pinyin: zālóng guójiā jízìránbǎohùqū) is the largest wetland reserve in China, located in the Songhua Nen river plain of Heilongjiang province. It is situated 30km (18 miles) outside Qiqhar in the west of Heilongjiang province.

Established in 1979, the 2100 square kilometre (520,000 acre) marshland is a major migratory route for birds from the Arctic migrating to South East Asia and is one of the few breeding grounds in the far east for the Megalurus pryeri species of marsh grassbird. Its ponds and reeds make it an ideal home to over 300 different species of birds. It is protected by the Chinese government.