Plan at a glance
Location and visitor areas
Xianghai National Nature Reserve lies around Xianghai Township in Tongyu County, Baicheng. Its lakes, reed wetlands, grassland and elm groves on sand dunes are spread across a large area. There is no single entrance that covers every attraction. Crane Island (Xianhe Dao) is the main stop for crane viewing; set the Xianghai Nature Museum and Xianghai Temple as separate navigation destinations.
Tickets and timing
According to a public report from August 2026, red-crowned crane flight-training demonstrations on Crane Island were scheduled for 10:00 am and 3:00 pm at that time. Check the day's notice for current showtimes and whether a demonstration is running. Allow about two hours for Crane Island alone. If you plan to visit the Nature Museum, Lanhai Pavilion and the Mongolian Elm Forest, aim for the morning demonstration and allow time to drive between stops. A full multi-stop visit takes about 6–8 hours; choose stops according to their opening hours that day.
Tickets may be sold separately for each site or as a combined ticket. Before buying, check which attractions are included in that day's ticket. Online booking information is limited, so confirm whether advance booking is required and how on-site tickets are sold before you set out.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Crane Island and red-crowned crane training
Crane Island has an observation platform, boardwalks along a reed-fringed shoreline and, when operating, bamboo-raft rides through the reed beds. The flight-training demonstration features captive-bred red-crowned cranes. Siberian cranes seen during migration are wild birds, and their numbers vary by year and weather.
Mongolian elm forest and wetland scenery
The Mongolian elms grow on sand dunes, and their twisted shapes are a signature Xianghai landscape. April–May and September–October are migration periods; you can combine time outdoors in the elm forest with birdwatching.
Lanhai Pavilion and the Nature Museum
Lanhai Pavilion is about 32 metres tall and looks over East Lake, West Lake and the surrounding wetlands. It is a good place to photograph lakes, dunes and reeds in one view. The Nature Museum has rare-bird and animal specimens and an ecological landscape model; allow about 30–60 minutes.
Xianghai Temple
Xianghai Temple (香海寺), within Xianghai National Nature Reserve in Tongyu County, is a cultural stop. Its buildings and old elm trees in the courtyard can be added to a wetland visit. Allow about 30 minutes to visit Xianghai Temple. If you are also visiting Crane Island, budget separately for the roughly two-hour Crane Island visit and the drive between the two sites. Check each site's opening hours and ticket arrangements before combining them.
Who it suits
Visitors interested in seeing red-crowned crane training and learning about wild migratory birds can make Crane Island their main stop. Families interested in wetland ecology can add the Nature Museum. Nature photographers can combine Lanhai Pavilion, the Mongolian Elm Forest and the reed-lined shore in one day.
For a different protected wetland destination in Baicheng, see Momoge National Nature Reserve.
Build your day
Two-hour Crane Island visit
Set your navigation destination to the Crane Island visitor area and arrive for the 10:00 am or 3:00 pm flight-training demonstration. Watch the demonstration, walk the boardwalks and spend time at the observation platform and reed-lined shore. After about two hours, return along the route you used to arrive.
Three- to four-hour museum and crane visit
If the Nature Museum is open that day, visit it early for about 30 minutes, then go to Crane Island for the 10:00 am flight-training demonstration and stay for about 1–1.5 hours. If time and opening hours allow, make a brief stop at Lanhai Pavilion. Include driving time between sites; the 3–4-hour estimate depends on those transfers. If you can only attend the 3:00 pm demonstration, visit Crane Island on its own rather than adding sites that require entry before evening.
Four- to six-hour wetland and lookout route
For Crane Island, Lanhai Pavilion and the Mongolian Elm Forest, schedule Crane Island around the 10:00 am demonstration. Allow 2–3 hours for the demonstration, observation platform and boardwalks, then drive to Lanhai Pavilion and the elm forest. The combined stops and driving take about 4–6 hours, depending on which areas are open that day. At the end, return by the same route to your lodging or Tongyu County seat. With the 3:00 pm demonstration, use the Crane Island-only option above.
Six- to eight-hour multi-stop route
In the morning, start at the Nature Museum or another site confirmed open that day. Then go to Crane Island for the 10:00 am flight-training demonstration and choose among Bird Park (Bainiao Yuan), Lanhai Pavilion, Xianghai Temple and the Mongolian Elm Forest according to driving time and opening conditions. The stops are spread out, so allow time for driving instead of trying to fit everything in. With the 3:00 pm demonstration, use the Crane Island-only option above. Allow about 6–8 hours for a multi-stop day and confirm each site's hours before setting out.
Get there
From Baicheng or Tongyu
Driving from central Baicheng to Xianghai takes about 1.5–2 hours. From Tongyu County seat, navigate separately to your first stop, such as Crane Island, the Nature Museum or Xianghai Temple. Intercity public transport and connections between attractions are limited; driving yourself or hiring a car is more practical for moving between sites around the showtime.
Getting around the reserve
Horse-drawn carts on Crane Island cover only a short stretch and cost about CNY 10 per person, one way. The Nature Museum and other sites have parking areas, but facilities are basic. Follow on-site parking directions; walking distances vary by stop.
Know before you go
Opening and activities
Reference listings give the Nature Museum hours of 8:00 am–5:30 pm and Xianghai Temple hours of 7:30 am–5:30 pm, but these have not been confirmed as current fixed hours. The reserve's sites are managed separately. Before setting out, confirm which sites are open, the latest entry time and whether the red-crowned crane training show is running. Treat past showtimes and reference hours as guidance, not a guarantee of current operations.
Weather, supplies and mobile signal
Mosquitoes are common in the wetlands. Wear long sleeves and bring insect repellent in summer. Wind can be strong along the lakeshore and at observation platforms, so bring a windproof layer. Shops and toilets are limited, and mobile reception is weak on some roads. Bring enough water and food, and download an offline map in advance.
Birdwatching and food
Drones are prohibited in the reserve. Do not chase, catch or disturb birds; follow staff instructions during any red-crowned crane feeding activity. Farm-style restaurants around Xianghai Township may serve soy-braised yellow catfish and deep-fried small river shrimp, but choices are limited. For more restaurants, return to Tongyu County seat; Zhangfuji Malatang (张福记麻辣烫) and Zhuangyuange Barbecue (状元阁烧烤) are options to consider.