Migratory birds grace the skies above the Hongya Mountain Reservoir in Minqin county of Wuwei, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

At the coldest point of winter, the largest desert reservoir in Asia, the Hongya Mountain Reservoir in Minqin county of Wuwei, Gansu province, finds itself covered in ice and snow, becoming an ideal gathering place for migratory birds, and presenting a beautiful scene of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Located in the northeast of the Hexi Corridor, downstream of the Shiyang River, the Hongya Mountain Reservoir is surrounded by the Tengger and Badain Jaran deserts, and serves as a large-scale reservoir focused primarily on protecting and improving the ecology of Minqin. It is also used in irrigation, flood control, and to ensure a stable water supply.