Erhai's winter gulls, November to March: watch them, don't feed them
Erhai Park, Xiaguan, and the east-shore waterfronts
Black-headed gulls fly in from Siberia each November and spend the winter on Yunnan's lakes until about March, Erhai included. In Xiaguan they gather on and around Haixin Pavilion (海心亭) beside Erhai Park, with snow on Cangshan behind them on clear days, and Xiaoputuo and the Shuanglang waterfront on the east shore draw flocks too. Dali took a different line from Kunming: in 2017 its Erhai protection bureau asked visitors not to feed the gulls, saying feeding adds to the lake's pollution, changes the birds' habits and risks spreading disease.
What locals sayRegulars point to Haixin Pavilion in Xiaguan as one of the best spots, with the snowy Cangshan range behind the birds.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- 1 hour · November–March
- In Chinese
- 洱海 红嘴鸥 海心亭
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Based on what locals and regular visitors share, checked against current sources · Updated September 2026. Details change — check opening times locally.
