Situated at the entrance to the sea of the ancient Huanghe River in the north of Shandong Province, only 60 km apart from Dongying City, the Huanghe River Delta Nature Reserve was set up in 1987 with an area of 153,000 hectares primarily for the protection of wetland ecosystems and rare birds in danger. The Reserve is rich in biological resources.

According to preliminary statistics, there are more than 800 species of aquatic animals, of which the lancelet, finless porpoise and Song River perch, etc. are at the first level of national protection, and more than 100 genera of wild plants, of which the wild soybeans in danger and under nation's key protection are widely distributed, and approximately 187 species of birds, of which about 108 species are listed into the Sino—Japan Migrant Agreement for protection. There are 32 species of nation's specically reserved wild animals including white headed crane, white stork, golden eagle, giant bustard, swan, cygnet and grey crane. There are also rich and varied waterfowls such as egret,goose, duck, etc.

In recent years, the Huanghe River — carried sand has moved into the Bohai Sea Gulf at a speed of 3 km per year, thus creating a new land resource of 30,000 to 40,000 mu. This is of immense importance not only to the rare migratory birds, but also to the scientific researches of the unique river entrance ecosystem.