Citizen volunteers in Shanxi Province's Datong City started an awareness campaign on Oct. 25 to protect migratory birds in the Sanggan River Marsh Reserve.
Illegal hunting has been a frequent occurrence in the area due to the bird's migrations. Hunters set bird traps and nets as well as use drugs and guns to capture rare species of birds.
To inform the people living in the 10 villages around the reserve, volunteers put up posters, described how to protect the birds and gave cards with numbers for villagers to contact if they spot an illegal activity.
The villagers responded well to the volunteers' sincerity, with some even telling them where and what hunters do when they reach an area.
The Sanggan River Marsh Reserve has been home to thousands of migratory birds in recent years. Flocks of birds fly there in late autumn and early winter. Most of these birds migrate south, but stop and take a short rest in the reserve.
The province of Shanxi, located in central China, is popularly known for its archeological discoveries. In 1971, local farmers stumbled upon a collection of sculptures known today as the Terracotta Warriors. Archeologists also believe this is where the Chinese civilization emerged.
Today, the historical sculptures are not the only things driving tourism to the 205,600-kilometer-square province. Datong City has become a popular location for tourists and locals alike. Aside from bird watching, more and more businessmen from Beijing prefer to do business trips in Datong because of the fresh air.
The city turned around a bad coal-driven past and became an environment-friendly place. In fact, the city won a national recognition for becoming a green community.