Over 1.5 million migratory birds travel to Beijing
CGTN
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(Photo: CGTN)

More than 1.5 million migratory birds have traveled to Beijing this year, according to data collected by the Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau from 88 monitoring stations. Swans, oriental storks, Baer's pochards and reed parrotbills are among the capital city's newest rare residents.

Beijing is an important stop for migratory birds in the world. Its complex terrains and diverse climate make it a biodiversity hotspot, especially for birds. To date, nearly 500 species of birds have been spotted in Beijing, which is more than Tokyo, New York and many other metropolises. 

In recent years, large-scale afforestation and ecological restoration projects have increased Beijing's forest coverage rate to 43.5 percent, thus improving the environment and making the city more habitable for birds.