Caohai Lake in Weining County of Bijie, Guizhou

In the lake, there are plenty of aquatic animals and plants, waterfowls and fish. All of these add more color to the lake. For example, every year from March to April, Caohai Lake is decorated by numerous flourishing flowers that live underwater; while large areas of azalea will cover the fields around the lake in autumn.
English Name: Caohai Lake in Bijie
Chinese name: 毕节草海
Best Seasons: Spring and Autumn
Recommended Visiting Time: Half a day
Tickets: Free
Address: Located in the outskirts of Weining County of Guizhou Province

Caohai Lake in Bijie

Caohai Lake (Chinese: 草海; pinyin: Cǎo Hǎi, Sea of Grass in Chinese) is a natural water-body situated in the Northwest Guizhou Province, of Southwest China. The lake is situated on the Weining Mountain, on the outskirts of Weining County. Caohai Village lies directly at the edge of the wetland.

Introduction of Caohai Lake in Bijie

Caohai is a holy place for summer tourism. It has beautiful scenery and beautiful scenery. It is also the most interesting place for Bijie. Caohai is a good place for summer vacation. The wonderful splendor of summer makes you dream. Caohai is a good place for traveling and boating. The scenery of Caohai is infinitely beautiful. It is romantic to sing a poem about Caohai in winter. Season of all kinds of beautiful migratory birds, flying under the blue sky and white clouds, grass sea boat price is low, to grass sea to take a boat you will feel no loss.

Caohai Nature Reserve

Since 1985, the area around the lake constitutes a nature reserve at the provincial level, and since 1992, at a national level. Cao Hai Nature Reserve is an Important Bird Area. The reserve area is 120 km2 (46 sq mi).

Fauna

The lake area is the largest and most important wetland of Southwest China, providing wintering place of black-necked cranes, the only plateau crane left in the world. Besides, the lake is also inhabited by 184 bird species, including common cranes, hooded cranes, white storks, black storks, bar-headed geese, golden eagles, eastern imperial eagles, white-tailed sea-eagles and ruddy shelducks.

In western China’s Guizhou Province lies a place known as the “Bird Kingdom in Plateau Lakes” — Weining Caohai. This area is not only a paradise for birds but also a perfect destination for travelers seeking tranquility and beauty.

I. Paradise for Birds

Weining Caohai is the largest natural freshwater lake in Guizhou, situated at an altitude of 2200 meters with a surface area of 31 square kilometers. Every winter, thousands of migratory birds, including rare species like Black-necked Cranes, Hooded Cranes, and Red-crowned Cranes, migrate here for the season. Standing by the lake, you can witness birds freely soaring above the water, creating a vibrant natural scene.

Weining Caohai welcomes over a thousand Red-billed Gulls every winter. These gulls fly from distant Siberia, crossing mountains and rivers over a journey of about two months, to settle in the beautiful and warm environment of Caohai. Clear skies and fluffy clouds seem to greet their return, reflecting in the mirror-like lake surface. Surrounded by blue waters and encircled by mountains, it resembles a canvas painted with the clarity of the sky, the diversity of clouds, and the distant mountain ranges. The playful Red-billed Gulls glide over the lake, sometimes playing, sometimes fishing, captivating many onlookers.

Even more eager to settle down are the Black-necked Cranes, arriving with their young in tow even before autumn passes. These cranes fly back to the Wumeng Mountains, spending their “holiday” in the rich feeding grounds of Caohai.

The Black-necked Crane is a star among Caohai’s bird species. Among the world’s 15 crane species, the latest discovery, the Black-necked Crane, is globally renowned as a rare aquatic bird. Named for the elegant black feathers covering its long, slender neck like a beautiful black velvet scarf, adorned with gray-white feathers, a bright red crown, and black-tipped wings and tail, there are only about 7,000 left globally, with over 1,500 spending their winters at Caohai annually. Their distinctive calls, ranging from loud singing to quiet foraging, echo for miles around, announcing their unique presence.

Caohai is not just a home for Black-necked Cranes but also hosts a variety of bird species such as Hooded Cranes, Mandarin Ducks, and Bar-headed Geese. According to the Caohai Management Committee, by November 16th, over 50,000 wintering migratory birds have arrived at Caohai. Nests of various birds can be found throughout Caohai, creating a lively spectacle whether in the early morning or evening. White Red-billed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Brown Bar-headed Geese… their calls fill the winter’s cold colors with a warmth of their own.

In winter, Caohai often experiences a “little spring” climate, with clear skies, wild goose calls echoing across the lake, waves rippling, kites flying, and fish jumping, creating a refreshing and delightful scene. Such beauty originates from Caohai’s unique climate and geography, making it a paradise for birds.

Caohai’s gentle and expansive terrain, minimal undulations, abundant solar energy, cool summers, and distinct dry and wet seasons are among China’s three famous plateau lakes (Caohai, Dianchi, Qinghai Lake). It is Guizhou’s largest natural freshwater lake, covering an area of 46.5 square kilometers. With an average depth of only about 2 meters, its clear and unpolluted water is richly vegetated, forming a spectacular “underwater grassland” that provides ample winter storage for birds.

Caohai is acclaimed as the “Bird Paradise,” “World of Grass,” and “Kingdom of Fish,” ranking among the world’s top ten birdwatching sites. In 2011, BBC’s documentary series “Beautiful China” opened with Caohai, “Beauty begins here,” a tribute to Caohai in the documentary and a praise for the birds, which is as appropriate today as it was then.

II. Natural Offerings

Caohai’s beauty varies throughout the year. In spring, you can see yellow ducks and green water grass on the lake surface; in summer, dense water grass covers the entire lake surface, and boats glide through Caohai like weaving through a green maze; in autumn, the lake becomes quiet, an ideal time to sit by the shore and daydream; in winter, you can see Black-headed Gulls and other rare birds.

III. Cultural Blend

Weining not only boasts beautiful natural landscapes but also rich ethnic cultures. It is home to several ethnic minorities such as Yi and Miao, whose traditional festivals, clothing, and cuisine are integral parts of the local culture. Here, you can experience genuine multicultural harmony.

IV. Travel Tips

The best times to visit Weining Caohai are summer and winter. Summer offers relief from the heat, while winter is the best season for birdwatching. Due to Caohai’s unique geographical location, it is advisable to plan your trip in advance and dress warmly.

Travel Guide

Recommended Transportation
Public Transportation: You can take a train from Guiyang, Liupanshui, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Liuzhou, Maoming, Zhaotong, and other places to Caohai Station, where you can reach the scenic area. You can also take a high-speed train to Bijie Station and then take a direct bus from Bijie West Passenger Station to Weining. Additionally, there are frequent buses available from Guiyang and Liupanshui to Caohai.
Self-driving: Starting from Guiyang, take the Guiyang-Huangguang Expressway to Liuzhi, then through Shuicheng, across Meihua Mountain to Weining. This section of the road is newly paved asphalt tertiary road with smooth and good conditions, about 7 hours to arrive. Along the way, you can see the lively scenes of Buyi, Miao, Hui, and Yi compatriots attending the village market and the distinctive ethnic customs.
Recommended Cuisine
Weining potatoes and Weining ham are renowned nationwide. In addition to these two specialties, Weining also has many delicious foods worth tasting, which can be found in many streets and alleys of Weining.

How to Get There

There are two ways to get there. One is taking a train to Guiyang and then taking a bus to Weining County. The other one is taking a train to Liupanshui City and then traveling further by bus.