Xianghai National Nature Reserve lies about 100 kilometres southwest of Baicheng and protects a vast mosaic of wetlands, marshes, and grasslands on the edge of the Inner Mongolian steppe. The reserve covers roughly 1,050 square kilometres and holds one of the highest concentrations of cranes in China during the spring and autumn migration seasons. Red-crowned cranes, white-naped cranes, and demoiselle cranes all stop here, along with a wide variety of waterfowl and raptors.
The flat, open terrain gives extraordinary visibility — birds can be watched at long range across marsh and grassland without disturbance. For serious birders, the reserve is a major destination, though it receives relatively little attention from international visitors compared to the better-publicised bird sites in China. The grassland zones on the reserve's margins show the transition from agricultural Jilin to the true steppe that begins beyond the provincial border. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the migration windows and the best times to visit; summer brings breeding activity but fewer migrant species.
Access from Baicheng requires either a car or a pre-arranged transfer, as public transport does not serve the reserve directly.