As autumn sets in and temperatures drop, migratory birds begin their journey southward across China. Local governments have stepped up their conservation efforts, in a bid to foster pristine environments to ensure safe passage for these winter visitors.

Black-headed gulls were seen playfully interacting with visitors at Dianchi Lake in Kunming, Yunnan. Egrets made a brief stop at the Hunhe River in Shenyang to refuel before continuing their journey south. In Zhangjiakou, Hebei, the golden hues of sunset conjured up a fairytale scene, with migratory waterbirds frolicking in a lake and soaring in the sky. And the stunning sight of a wave of grey geese arriving at the Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in Gansu reflected the spectacle of nature in motion.