Baidutan in Xichuan county, Nanyang, a former barren beach next to the Danjiangkou Reservoir, has become a popular local tourist attraction since thousands of egrets have begun visiting the beach.

Thousands of egrets paddling and flying around the beach formed a stunning backdrop, along with the surrounding greenery and the blue sky.

A group of egrets rest leisurely at the Danjiangkou Reservoir. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

Baidutan has been renamed as Bailutan (Beach of Egrets), attracted a mounting number of visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The return of the egrets has resulted from the greatly improved environment in the neighboring region of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, one of the main water sources of the South-to-North Water Diversion project.

Over the past two years, the Xichuan government has planted 1.44 million mu (96,000 hectares) of flora, a 45 percent forest cover.

A photo showing egrets leading a harmonious life with cattle in Nanyang has gone viral. [Photo/photohn.com]

In addition, 2,000 related workers have set up a specialized group to protect water resources in Danjiangkou, farms and restaurants under the protection standard line were forced to close, and a sludge management center was established.

Earlier this year, the Xichuan government invested 15 million yuan ($2.16 million) to plant more than 600,000 plants such as aceer monoes, cherry trees and crabapples.

Egrets are captured by the cameras of amateur and professional photographers. [Photo/photohn.com]