As most places on China's Loess Plateau face the fierce cold of winter, Pinglu County in Shanxi Province is instead rather warm.
Every November, thousands of wild swans arrive here from remote Siberia to escape the cold weather.
Pinglu residents have taken care of these elegant guests for years.
At seven o'clock in the morning when the first glimmer of dawn spreads across the sky, wetland ranger He Jianxi has already left home to visit the swans that come for the winter.
Seeing him near the lake, a few curious swans swam closer. They are not shy at all.
A swan with a blue tag around its neck draws He's attention.
Checking the numbers on the tag, he finds it's a swan he has been looking after every winter for the past five years.
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