Located in the northeastern part of Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Tengger Nayur Wetland Reserve is an inland wetland of the desert plateau.

It is a rare non-zonal meadow pasture and wetland area in central Inner Mongolia and it is the largest wetland in Baotou.

Tengger means heaven in the Mongolian language, and Nayur means lake.

The catchment area of the wetland reserve once reached 8701.73 square kilometers in history. However, since 1979, due to a continuous drought, the water level of Tengger Nayur has declined, the wetland has shrunk, and the local ecosystem has faced disaster.

Recently, water levels in the wetland reserve have recovered by around 100 million cubic meters due to torrential rain in the banner.

With the expansion of the water level, the wetland ecology of the reserve has also changed. The area of sandy land and bare land has decreased, the area of shallow wetlands and swamp wetlands has increased, and the number of waterbirds that inhabit and breed has risen.

Tourists pictured beside the lake at Tengger Naγur Wetland Reserve, Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region [Photo/Baotou Daily]