According to the application made by Qiqihar Municipal Government and Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Forestry in 1979, Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government approved Qiqihar to establish Zhalong Provincial-Level Natural Preserve, which was promoted to be National-Level Natural Preserve and was ranked among the Important International Wetland List by Chinese Government in 1992. Zhalong Natural Preserve is located at the lower reaches of Wuyur River of Songnen Plain, the western part of Heilongjiang Province, where is the common boundary area between Qiqihar City, Tailai, Fuyu, Lindian and Durbote Mongolian Autonomous County, with the total area of 210,000 ha.

The formation of the wetland in Zhalong Natural Preserve originated by the acaudal state of the area from the Wuyur River of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains to this area, the overflow and flood of river has formed vast and permanent fresh water reed marshes and lakes, such a big and relatively intact reed marsh wetland is ranking in the first place in China and is rare in the world as well.

The wetland is praised as Kidney of Earth, which constitutes the important natural environment for the existence and multiplication of people, together with forest and sea. Zhalong Wetland is a gift endowed by the nature to us. As an important wetland of international influence, it is an important integral part of the global natural environment, however it directly benefits Qiqihar and blesses the biologic diversity in its surrounding areas, which brings great ecological benefits, social benefits and economic benefits to us.

Zhalong Wetland is a paradise of birds and a heaven of cranes. There are more than 260 species of birds in Zhalong Natural Preserve, including 35 species of national protection birds. The Preserve is particularly renowned in the world for its large amount diversified species of cranes. There are currently 15 species of cranes survived in the world, China has 9 species, while Zhalong Preserve has 6 species. Especially the red-crowned crane, there are over 2,000 wild red-crowned cranes in the world, while Zhalong Preserve has more than 400 of them. Therefore, Zhalong Wetland is the largest inhabiting and multiplying place of red-crowned cranes in the world as well. Moreover, there are also “posthouses” and “shelters” for many transnational migrate birds that live through the winter in island countries of Pacific Ocean, Southeastern coast and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River but multiply in Mongolia and Russia. Hundred of thousands of birds pass by Zhalong Wetland and every spring and autumn and have food here to recover their physical strength for further migration.

Zhalong Preserve is also an important base for scientific research, practice teaching research and ecological environment education. Northeast Forestry University, Life Engineering College of Qiqihar University and other higher education institutes have established teaching and scientific research base in Zhalong Natural Preserve. There are throngs of experts and scholars coming for scientific research every year. The International Crane Academic Symposium was held in Zhalong Natural Preserve in 1987, with representatives from more than 30 countries and areas from the world. Study on Utilization of Songnen Plain Flood Resource and Protection of Wetlands , Wetland Economic Value Evaluation and other NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation) projects have been implemented in Zhalong Preserve. Zhalong Wetland is endowed with huge aesthetics value. The environment education base is also open for ecological tour, which could yearly receive more than 100,000 visitors and has generated great social benefits.