Urban nature reserve a lesson in species protection

In downtown Xiamen, Fujian province, a 6-meter-high mound that stretches for 60 to 70 meters stands in stark contrast to the surrounding high-rise buildings.

The mound sits in the center of a 3-hectare reserve in Huli district and is a vital sanctuary for the blue-tailed bee-eaters, which is under second-level State protection.

The blue-tailed bee-eater, or Merops philippinus, is renowned for its colorful plumage and on the Chinese mainland is found in coastal provinces such as Fujian, Hainan and Guangdong.