Data Zone
Country/territory: China (mainland)
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 36,000 ha
Site description (2009 baseline)
Located on the upper Ili River, at the confluence of the Kunes River and Tekes River, 70 km south south-east of Yining City and 450 km south south-west of Urumqi. The Kunes River flows through the IBA and joins the Ili River. The IBA is an important breeding and staging site for birds.
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: Animals include Vulpes vulpes, Sus scrofa and Cervus elaphus.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ili River basin (China (mainland)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ili-river-basin-iba-china-(mainland) on 22/11/2024.