Weining and Caohai Lake

 

 

The town of Weining is caked with mud and not likely the most beautiful place you'll visit, however it has an interesting mix of minority peoples. A large market is held here every three or four days. At other times there is a quieter market street in the old, eastern part of town. Evidence of the Hui includes a modern mosque in the northern part of town and several Muslim restaurants nearby.

 

 

 

The main attraction in Weining is the Caohai Lake, one of China's premier birdwatching sites and only a 15-minute walk southwest from downtown Weining. This 20 square km fresh water wetland became a national nature reserve in 1992 and is an important winter site for many migratory birds, the most famous of which is the black-necked crane.

 

The lake has a fragile history, having been drained during both the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution with unfulfilled hopes of producing useable farmland.

 

Refilled again in 1980, environmental problems remain and the government is enlisting locals in its attempts to protect the lake.

 

Trails wrap around the shore, but the best way to see the lake, and the birds, is by 'punts'. Don't worry about finding the boatmen: they'll find you. The best time to visit the lake is from December to March, when the birds are wintering. Bring warm clothes.

 

 

Must-see Villages in Guizhou and Guangxi
      Basha      Zhaoxing      Tang'An      Xijiang      Sanjiang      Longsheng     

Frequently asked questions in Guizhou

Questions and answers