Thousands of mallards were recently spotted sheltering at the river beach of Qilong town in Qidong, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province.

Mallards are under national first-class protection.

Every winter, mallards come to the beach to spend winter. Excellent water quality, a large area and abundant food provide a comfortable environment for them to overwinter.

In recent years, Qidong has been pursuing green development and has continued to promote the protection and restoration of the Yangtze River's natural environment.

More than 150 kinds of birds, including the eastern curlew, shelter in the city, a result of efforts to protect and restore the Yangtze River in Qidong.

A large number of mallards rest at a beach in Qilong town in Qidong, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt0513]

Groups of mallards fly over a river in Qidong, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt0513]