Yuncheng Salt Lake, Shanxi, China: A Decade of Covenant on the "Chinese Dead Sea" – Ecological Warmth Between 57-Year-Old Xu Lianmei and Flamingos

Yuncheng Salt Lake, located in southern Shanxi Province, China, is known as the "Chinese Dead Sea". As a rare natural saltwater wetland in North China, its unique high-salinity ecological environment and abundant aquatic organisms make it an ideal habitat for numerous migratory waterbirds.

In the harsh winter of 2017, 57-year-old local resident Xu Lianmei accidentally discovered a group of flamingos with injured wings, shivering from the cold while working at the salt lake. She immediately gently treated their wounds on-site, and thereafter fetched fresh Pacific white shrimp from her own farm every day to feed them, carefully helping these creatures get through the harsh winter.

After recovering, the flamingo flock chose to stay and breed at Yuncheng Salt Lake. For a decade, every winter, Xu Lianmei has cherished these "special friends" and often visited the salt lake to check on them. Today, this group of flamingos has become an iconic "ecological calling card" of Yuncheng Salt Lake, attracting numerous citizens and photography enthusiasts from near and far.

A kind reminder: When observing and photographing, please do not make loud noises, chase the flamingos, or operate drones improperly. It is recommended to wear neutral-colored clothing, minimize unnecessary movement, and abide by the unified entry and exit times to jointly guard this harmonious warmth between humans and nature

Reporter : Zehao Sun Yuncheng Shanxi China