Xingkai Lake in Mishan City, northeast China's Heilongjiang has entered the peak period of spring bird migration as the weather gets warmer.
Over 50,000 migratory birds have been spotted gathering at the lake on the way back north, transforming the tranquil landscape into a vibrant scene of life.
Based on this year's weather conditions, the peak period of spring bird migration at the lake will last until early April, said Jiang Zhendong, a staff member at the Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration.
The Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve is an important stopover point along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), one of the world's great flyways for migratory birds. Boasting vast wetlands, high-quality water, and abundant aquatic life, it provides migratory birds with ample food sources and a safe habitat.
The number of migratory bird species in Xingkai Lake has increased to 294, including 18 species of birds under national Grade-I protection and 56 species of birds under national Grade-II protection. Both the diversity and population of migratory birds are growing steadily in the area.
Lake in Heilongjiang attracts flocks of returning migratory birds
China on Wednesday issued a set of guidelines to accelerate the establishment of a nationwide long-term care insurance system, with the aim of addressing the basic care needs of people who have difficulty in taking care of themselves.
The long-term care insurance system is a form of social insurance designed to provide services or financial support for basic living care and related medical services to individuals who are unable to care for themselves, according to the guidelines issued by the general offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.
Since China began piloting long-term care insurance in 2016, nearly 310 million people have enrolled, and over 3.3 million people with disabilities have benefited from the program.
According to a long-term care insurance service list released by the government in September 2025, a long-term care fund would pay for 20 living care services, such as assistance with meals, toileting and hygiene, and 16 medical care services, including general checkups, basic care and rehabilitation, for eligible insurance participants.
This system is considered a vital component of China's broader social security framework and a crucial strategy to tackle challenges posed by the country's aging population, the document noted.
China to establish nationwide long-term care insurance system
