The bond between the people of Kunming and the seagulls began with an enchanting encounter in 1985.
That winter, seagulls first visited the Spring City in large flocks. “At that time, the black-headed gulls were still timid and dared not approach humans, but the citizens were very enthusiastic towards them, feeding them their own fried dough sticks and steamed bread,” said Wang Zijiang, Honorary Director of the Kunming Ornithological Society. During this initial meeting, the Kunming locals showered these “strange guests” with immense love. Since then, the seagulls have arrived punctually every year, without ever breaking their promise, until the present day.
In the warm winter sunshine, seagulls fly and circle over Dianchi Lake in flocks, awaiting the people’s feedings. Even though Kunmingers have seen seagulls countless times, they are always as excited as on the first encounter. Some throw gull food into the air, watching the seagulls cleverly dive and compete for it; others stand tall and straight, holding their hands high with gull food, waiting for the bold seagulls to come and eat.
By the side of Cuihu Lake, there stands a bronze statue of “Seagull Old Man,” Wu Qingheng. Once, Mr. Wu Qingheng would visit Cuihu Lake every day to feed the seagulls with egg biscuits he made himself. The old man and the seagulls became friends and also became a scenic spot at Cuihu Lake. After Mr. Wu Qingheng passed away, the Kunmingers made a statue of him and placed it by the lake, allowing the old man to gaze at his seagulls forever.
Best Season for Watching Seagulls:
November to February of the next year
Best Locations:
Haihong Wetland: A waterside spot for observing seagulls. Be sure to arrive here from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to capture the stunning sunset and deciduous cedar trees, making for picturesque photographs. The number of seagulls before and after 4:00 p.m. is completely different. During feeding times, the seagulls are very active. The sunset begins to be obscured by mountains around 5:40 p.m. Starting from mid-November, the deciduous cedar trees here turn red in patches, creating a beautiful scene.
Haigeng Dam: In the morning, you can see numerous seagulls. At dusk, Dianchi Lake sparkles and seagulls fly all around, making for great photos. Although there are many seagulls here, there are also many tourists, and the scenery is relatively monotonous.
Haiyan Village: At 4:30 p.m., enjoy the dusk and seagulls dancing in the sky. Find a coffee shop to sit back and relax.
Cuihu Lake: Located in downtown Kunming, there are still few seagulls here in November, but the autumn scenery is charming. After December, there will be many seagulls.
Time and Precautions
- Choose the right time for birdwatching. The seagulls at Cuihu Park will leave around 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (said to go to Dianchi Lake), and those at Haigeng Dam will fly away around 7:00 p.m. (to rest in secluded places outside Dianchi Lake). So don’t arrive too late, or you might see nothing.
- Although Kunming is known as the Spring City, it’s still important to keep warm, especially by Dianchi Lake, where the wind is stronger and it’s quite cold.
- Choose gull food to feed the seagulls, which is sold at birdwatching spots. Gull food is more nutritious and balanced, while steamed bread and other foods can cause nutritional imbalances in seagulls, affecting their health. Gull food can be sprinkled on the ground or thrown into the air little by little. Do not sprinkle large amounts of food into the water, as the seagulls may not have time to peck at it, affecting water quality.
- Black-headed gulls are protected animals in China. Please observe them and take photoes civilizedly and do not capture them. Instead, use a small amount of gull food to lure them. Don’t use too much food, or the seagulls may fight over it and injury you.
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