Mesmerizing views of common cranes roaming banks of Yellow River in C China's Henan

Photo shows common cranes gliding over the riverbank shallows of the Yellow River in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Minghui)

As the sun set on Dec. 1, golden light spilled across the ecological barrier at the dams along the Yellow River in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province. Flocks of common cranes wandered across the shoals, dipping their heads to forage or gliding low over the water.

Their slender silhouettes shimmered against the ripples and reeds, painting a lively portrait of the river's restored ecology.

Bridge towers, sunset light, and flocks of common cranes roaming the riverbank shallows of the Yellow River create a spectacular evening view in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Minghui)

Photo shows groups of common cranes moving across sandy riverbanks of the Yellow River in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Minghui)

Photo shows common cranes strolling along the broad, sandy shores of the Yellow River in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Minghui)

Photo shows a mesmerizing view of a long bridge stretching over the Yellow River as flocks of common cranes strolling along the sandy banks in Fengqiu county, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 1, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Cheng Minghui)