The sunrise casts golden rays over the Jiushan Islands in Ningbo, which is home to the world's largest breeding site for Chinese crested terns, on Aug 11, as the birds glide over the sea. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The Xiangshan Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve in Xiangshan county, Ningbo is the largest breeding site for Chinese crested terns in the world.

The Chinese crested tern is classified as "critically endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list.

The global population of Chinese crested terns has surged from less than 50 to about 150, partly due to an artificial breeding campaign launched by Xiangshan county to save the endangered species in May 2013.

The Jiushan Islands in Xiangshan county, Ningbo is a haven for birds. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The tranquil beauty of the Jiushan Islands early in the morning in Xiangshan county, Ningbo as the sun rises. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]