East China & Hainan Birding Tours

Male Cabot's Tragopan on our East China Birding Tour, China — Cabot’s Tragopan © Summer Wong

Winter Birding in Eastern China & Hainan – Cranes, Endemics & Island Specialties | 20 Days

Tour Overview

Winter is unquestionably the finest season to explore Eastern China. As lakes and wetlands across northern Asia freeze, millions of migratory birds move south to the Yangtze floodplain, creating one of the world’s greatest concentrations of wintering waterbirds. At the same time, many of Eastern China’s endemic forest birds become easier to observe, while the tropical rainforests of Hainan provide the perfect finale with a remarkable collection of island endemics.

This carefully designed 20-day itinerary focuses on the very best winter birding sites in Eastern China, from the internationally renowned wetlands of Poyang Lake to the forested mountains of Wuyuan, Dongzhai, Emei Feng, Mingxi and Fuzhou, before continuing to the tropical rainforests of Jianfengling and the coastal wetlands and lowland forests of Danzhou and Fanjia Nature Reserve on Hainan Island. Rather than trying to cover all of China, this tour concentrates on the country’s richest winter birding region, maximizing time in the field while minimizing unnecessary travel.

The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly Poyang Lake, internationally recognised as the single most important wintering site for the Critically Endangered Siberian Crane, where almost the entire eastern population spends the winter. Vast flocks of Oriental Storks, Swan Geese, White-naped Cranes, Hooded Cranes, and thousands of ducks and geese gather across the lake system, making it one of Asia’s most spectacular winter birding destinations. We will also search for other globally threatened species including Baer’s Pochard, while nearby rivers provide excellent opportunities for Scaly-sided Merganser, one of the world’s most sought-after wintering waterfowl.

Away from the wetlands, the forests of Jiangxi, Henan and Fujian hold an exceptional collection of Chinese endemic and East Asian specialities. Our targets include Reeves’s Pheasant, Cabot’s Tragopan, Elliot’s Pheasant, White-necklaced Partridge, Crested Ibis, White-eared Night Heron, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Pied Falconet, together with a superb variety of laughingthrushes, parrotbills, fulvettas, yuhinas and buntings. Winter often provides excellent viewing conditions, with mixed feeding flocks and reduced foliage making many forest species easier to observe than during the breeding season.

The tour concludes on Hainan Island, home to one of China’s richest concentrations of endemic birds. Spending three days in the outstanding forests of Jianfengling gives us excellent opportunities to search for Hainan Peacock Pheasant, Hainan Partridge, Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, and numerous other Hainan specialities found nowhere else on Earth.

The tour finishes in western Hainan, where the coastal wetlands, farmland and lowland forests around Danzhou and Fanjia Nature Reserve provide an excellent finale. Here we search for wintering coastal specialties such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Saunders’s Gull and Slaty-breasted Rail, before enjoying productive night birding for Eastern Grass Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, King Quail and Barred Buttonquail. Our final morning in Fanjia Nature Reserve offers another opportunity for Hainan specialties including Pale-capped Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon and White-bellied Green Pigeon, rounding off an exceptionally diverse winter birding adventure.

Over 20 days, we expect to record approximately 250–350 bird species, including around 10 Chinese endemic species, while experiencing one of the greatest winter bird spectacles in Asia. For birders wishing to discover the unique avifauna of Eastern China at its very best, this itinerary offers an outstanding combination of globally threatened waterbirds, spectacular pheasants, Chinese endemics and tropical island specialties.

Tour Highlights

One of Asia’s finest winter birding tours
Witness the world’s largest wintering population of Siberian Crane at Poyang Lake
Search for eastern China endemics like Reeves’s Pheasant, Cabot’s Tragopan & Elliot’s Pheasant
Explore Hainan Island for its unique endemic birds, including Hainan Peacock Pheasant and Hainan Partridge
Excellent opportunities for globally threatened birds: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Baer’s Pochard, White-eared Night Heron, Scaly-sided Merganser and Crested Ibis
Outstanding bird photography opportunities at selected bird hides
Night birding for Eastern Grass Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, and other nocturnal specialties
Expect 250–350 bird species across wetlands, forests, mountains and tropical rainforest

Tour Schedule & Departure Dates

2026 Dec 20 – 2027 Jan 8 (20 days) bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 4500 USD

2027 Jan 10-29 (20 days) bird guide : Summer Wong , private tour, tour is full

2027 Feb 10-Mar 1 (20 days) bird guide : Summer Wong , private tour, tour is full

2028 Feb 3-22 (20 days) bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 10 pax, cost: 4800 USD

Besides our scheduled and private tours, we also offer budget-friendly birding tours. If you are an international birding company looking for a reliable ground operator in China, please feel free to contact us for rates and further details.

Deposit : USD 500 per person

Single Room Supplement: USD 600 per person

Tour Cost Includes:

All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance fees and nature reserve permits
Guide/driver’s meals, accommodation, and service fees
Domestic flight from Fuzhou to Sanya/Haikou

Tour Cost Excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Tips for local staff

Scroll down to check out the itinerary, map, photos of hotels and food, plus birds, mammals, and stunning scenery

Detailed Daily Itinerary & Targets

Day 1 (Arrival Day) — Shanghai

Arrive at Shanghai airport, optional birding around Shanghai if arrival time permits.

Overnight: Shanghai

Day 2 — Morning Shanghai Birding → 6.5hrs drive to Wuyuan (500km)

Morning birding at Shanghai local sites, then long drive heading to Wuyuan.

Main targets in Shanghai area: Reed Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Chinese Penduline Tit, Pallas’s Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Falcated Duck, Brown-cheeked Rail

Overnight: Wuyuan

Day 3 — Full day birding in Wuyuan

All-day birding across Wuyuan mountain valleys.

Main targets in Wuyuan area: Mandarin Duck, Scaly-sided Merganser, Pied Falconet, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, Chinese Hwamei, Moustached Laughingthrush, Masked Laughingthrush, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Long-billed Plover, Black-winged Kite, Black Eagle, Eastern Buzzard, Collared Owlet, Grey Treepie, Japanese Tit, Rufous-faced Warbler, Black-throated Bushtit, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Dusky Fulvetta, Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese Yuhina, Red-billed Starling, Black-collared Starling, Grey-backed Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail, White-crowned Forktail, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Fork-tailed Sunbird, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chinese Grosbeak, Yellow-browed Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Tristram’s Bunting

Overnight: Wuyuan

Day 4 — Morning Wuyuan Birding → 3.5hrs drive to Jiujiang (270km)

Morning birding in Wuyuan, depart for Jiujiang after lunch.

Overnight: Jiujiang

Day 5 — Morning Northern Poyang Lake Birding → 5.5hrs drive to Dongzhai (420km)

Early morning birding on Northern Poyang Lake wetlands; drive to Dongzhai, optional afternoon birding if schedule allows.

Main targets in Northern Poyang Lake area: Baer’s Pochard, Siberian Crane, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Swan Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Grey Heron, Common Kingfisher, Yellow-browed Warbler, White-browed Laughingthrush, Masked Laughingthrush, Red-billed Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Black-collared Starling, Dusky Thrush, Chinese Grosbeak, Little Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Yellow-throated Bunting, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Dongzhai

Day 6 — Morning Dongzhai Birding → 6.5hrs drive to Wucheng (520km)

Morning forest birding around Dongzhai, long drive to Wucheng (Poyang Lake).

Main targets in Dongzhai area: Reeves’s Pheasant, Crested Ibis, Brown Crake, Crested Kingfisher, Collared Crow, Silver-throated Bushtit, Black-throated Bushtit, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Chinese Hwamei, Masked Laughingthrush, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Eurasian Siskin, Little Bunting, Meadow Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Yellow-throated Bunting, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Wucheng

Day 7 — Full day birding in Poyang Lake (Wucheng) → drive to Nanchang

Whole day wetland birding covering various lake habitats around Wucheng.

Main targets in Wucheng, Poyang Lake area: Siberian Crane, Common Crane, Hooded Crane, White-naped Crane, Falcated Duck, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Common Pheasant, Swan Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Brown Crake, Japanese Quail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Oriental Stork, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Marsh Grassbird, Plain Prinia, Red-billed Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Black-collared Starling, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Hwamei, Grey-backed Thrush, Pale Thrush, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Olive-backed Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit, Chinese Grosbeak, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Nanchang

Day 8 — Morning Poyang Lake Birding → 5.5hrs drive to Taining (420km)

Morning wrap-up birding at south Poyang Lake, drive to Taining base for Emei Feng.

Poyang Lake area: Siberian Crane, Common Crane, Hooded Crane, White-naped Crane, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Falcated Duck, Baikal Teal, Chinese Penduline Tit, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Marsh Grassbird, Plain Prinia, Red-billed Starling, White-cheeked Starling, Black-collared Starling, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Hwamei, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Olive-backed Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit, Chinese Grosbeak, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Taining

Day 9 — Full day birding in Emei Feng

All-day mountain birding on Emei Feng trails.

Main targets in Emei Feng area: Cabot’s Tragopan, Elliot’s Pheasant, Silver Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Mandarin Duck, Sultan Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Japanese Tit, Dusky Fulvetta, Huet’s Fulvetta, Chinese Hwamei, Masked Laughingthrush, Moustached Laughingthrush, Buffy Laughingthrush, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, House Swift, Black-winged Kite, Black Eagle, Collared Owlet, Asian Barred Owlet, Great Barbet, Common Kestrel, Grey-chinned Minivet, Bull-headed Shrike, White-bellied Erpornis, Indochinese Yuhina, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, Grey Treepie, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Finchbill, Mountain Bulbul, Rufous-faced Warbler, Black-throated Bushtit, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Crested Myna, Black-collared Starling, Dusky Thrush, White’s Thrush, White-crowned Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Siberian Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Brambling, Little Bunting, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Taining

Day 10 — Morning Emei Feng Birding → 2hrs drive to Mingxi (110km via Mingxi)

Morning birding at Emei Feng, short drive to Mingxi; optional afternoon birding if time permits, transfer to Jiangle for overnight.

Overnight: Jiangle

Day 11 — Full day Mingxi Birding

Full day birding along Mingxi stream trails and at dedicated bird hide.

Main targets in Mingxi area: Blyth’s Kingfisher, Elliot’s Pheasant, White-eared Night Heron, Silver Pheasant, Red-headed Trogon, Chinese Barbet, Hartert’s Leaf Warbler, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Grey-chinned Minivet, White-bellied Erpornis, Japanese Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese Yuhina, Black-chinned Yuhina, White’s Thrush, Pale Thrush, Little Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Tristram’s Bunting

Overnight: Ziyun Village

Day 12 — Morning Mingxi Birding → 2hrs drive to Sanming (90km)

Morning birding in Mingxi area, transfer to Sanming with afternoon birding opportunities.

Main targets in Sanming area: White-necklaced Partridge, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Long-tailed Thrush, Little Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Tristram’s Bunting

Overnight: Sanming

Day 13 — Morning Sanming Birding → after lunch 3hrs drive to Fuzhou (220km)

Morning local birding around Sanming, drive to Fuzhou after lunch.

Main targets in Sanming area: Short-tailed Parrotbill, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Barbet, Red-headed Trogon, Eurasian Wryneck, Scarlet Minivet, Grey-chinned Minivet, White-bellied Erpornis, Sultan Tit, Japanese Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Light-vented Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Chestnut Bulbul, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese Yuhina

Overnight: Fuzhou

Day 14 — Morning Fuzhou Forest Park Birding → 1hr drive to Changle (60km)

Morning birding in Fuzhou forest park, then transfer to Changle.

Main targets in Fuzhou forest park: White-necklaced Partridge, Spotted Elachura, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Fujian Niltava, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Hartert’s Leaf Warbler, Manchurian Bush Warbler, Chinese Pond Heron, Great Barbet, Grey Treepie, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Black Bulbul, Chestnut Bulbul, Rufous-faced Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Dusky Fulvetta, Red-billed Leiothrix, Chinese Hwamei, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Indochinese Yuhina, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Pale Thrush

Overnight: Changle

Day 15 — Morning Minjiang Estuary Birding → Fly to Hainan (Sanya/Haikou) → Drive to Jianfengling

Morning wetland birding at Minjiang Estuary; transfer to Changle airport, take flight to Hainan Island, then ground drive to Jianfengling mountain reserve.

Main targets in Minjiang Estuary area: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-faced Spoonbill, Tundra Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Northern Pintail, Little Grebe, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Common Moorhen, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Temminck’s Stint, Red-necked Stint, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Saunders’s Gull, Relict Gull, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Gull, Mongolian Gull, Caspian Tern, Oriental Stork, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Chinese Pond Heron, Osprey, Black-winged Kite, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Eastern Buzzard, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Light-vented Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Manchurian Bush Warbler, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Bluethroat, Daurian Redstart, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Richard’s Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Black-faced Bunting

Overnight: Jianfengling

Days 16–17 — Two full days birding in Jianfengling

Two consecutive full days exploring lowland and montane rainforest of Jianfengling.

Main targets in Jianfengling: Hainan Peacock Pheasant, Hainan Partridge, Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Spot-necked Babbler, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Chinese Barbet, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Sultan Tit, Red-headed Trogon, Japanese Robin, Large Scimitar Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-babbler, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Hartert’s Leaf Warbler, Mountain Scops Owl

Overnight: Jianfengling

Day 18 — Morning Jianfengling Birding → Drive to Danzhou

Morning forest birding at Jianfengling; drive to Danzhou, keep an eye out for White-browed Crake and Lesser Whistling Duck en route. After dinner, nightspotting in Danzhou.

Nightspotting targets in Danzhou: Eastern Grass Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, King Quail, Barred Buttonquail, Paddyfield Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler

Overnight: Danzhou

Day 19 — Full day birding in Danzhou

All-day coastal & wetland birding around Danzhou, and nightspotting in Danzhou woods and fields.

Main targets in Danzhou coastal: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Saunders’s Gull, Black-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Slaty-breasted Rail

Overnight: Danzhou

Day 20 (Departure Day) — Morning Danzhou Birding → Transfer to Haikou Airport

Morning birding in Fanjia Nature Reserve, drive to Haikou airport, we recommend booking flights departing after 18:00. End of tour.

Main targets in Fanjia Nature Reserve : Pale-capped Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, White-bellied Green Pigeon