Embark on a wild adventure in Yancheng with this ultimate self-driving guide

I finally visited the World Natural Heritage site—China's Yellow (Bohai) Sea Migratory Bird Habitat—in Dongtai, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. This 2-day, 1-night trip was very original and memorable.👍

Birdwatching 🐦, beachcombing 🦀, deer herds 🦌, red-crowned cranes 🦩, and stargazing 🔭 all in one trip!

⚠️If possible, remember to bring a telephoto camera, binoculars...and carrots 🥕

🚗 It's a 3-hour drive from Shanghai (🅿️ each attraction has a parking lot).
🏨 Mercure Yancheng Dongtai Huanghai Forest Hotel

🗓️Itinerary suggestions:
Day 1: China Milu Park—Yeludang
Day 2: Yellow Sea Forest Park—Tiaozini

🏞️Attractions:
▪️Tiaozini Scenic Area 08:30–17:00 🕒2–3 hours 💰CNY 24
World Natural Heritage Site! A paradise for birdwatchers and a key area on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, with millions of migratory birds inhabiting it every year. You can also enjoy the sea, watch the sunrise, and go beachcombing (pay attention to the tide times).
‼️Navigate to "Visitor Service Center" and take the scenic shuttle bus to enter.

▪️Yellow Sea Forest Park 08:30–17:30 🕒2–3 hours 💰CNY 35
A 4A-rated scenic area and a "green oxygen bar" with thousands of acres of dawn redwood trees. It is the largest plain forest in China. Go deep into the forest to explore the "Eye of the Forest," stroll along the aerial boardwalk, experience the Mirror of the Sky, and enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the forest.
‼️You can get tickets when you check in to the hotel.

▪️China Milu Park 08:30–17:00 🕒2–3 hours 💰CNY 35
A 5A-rated scenic area and the world's largest Milu deer nature reserve, home to over 6,000 deer (60% of the world's total). It is divided into a driving area and a walking area. You can get up close to the Milu deer and interact with them by feeding them carrots 🥕, which is a lot of fun.
‼️Bring your own carrots, as they are expensive in the scenic area.

▪️Yeludang 09:00–17:00 🕒2–3 hours 💰CNY 20
A habitat for wild Milu deer populations. Compared with the captive breeding model of the neighboring China Milu Park, this place retains the most original natural state. Meet the Milu deer unexpectedly along the way.
It is also one of the five major dark night sky protection sites in China (the only one in economically developed areas), with up to 238 days of stargazing per year, and has been selected into the World Dark Sky Reserve list.
‼️Remember to keep warm when stargazing at night.

🔗Nearby attractions:
▪️Red-crowned Crane Wetland Ecological Tourism Area
A 4A-rated scenic area where you can see red-crowned cranes flying together during the release sessions at 10:30 and 15:30 every day.
▪️Sunrise Bay
The best place in Jiangsu to watch the sunrise over the sea, where you can see the unique natural wonder of "tidal trees."
▪️Xixi Tianxianyuan Scenic Area
The origin of the "Legend of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy," with 53 related place name relics.
▪️Holland Flower Sea
China's No. 1 tulip flower sea! It has the largest planting area, the most varieties, and the most beautiful shapes.