The wetlands drain into the Jinsha River, an upper basin tributary of the Yangtze.
[1] The wetlands are important habitat for resident and migratory waterbirds.
More than 100,000 waterbirds visit each year, and use the lake as a migratory stop-over, breeding ground, and/or wintering habitat.
76 species of geese and ducks have been observed here, and it is habitat for the critically endangered white-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni) and Baer's pochard (Aythya baeri).
[3] Fishing, poaching and hunting have been banned to protect the lake's wildlife.