Actually, the answer is - just about anywhere. All you really need is a light weight pair of binoculars - I recommend 8x30 magnification and a decent bird book for identification. "A Field Guide To The Birds Of China" is commonly available in both Chinese and English language versions and is the most comprehensive guide there is with nearly 1,300 species described and in full colour.

However, here's a few special areas that you may wish to visit:

Hong Kong

Mai Po Marshes, New Territories

Close to the border with Shenzhen, this is a World Wildlife Fund protected area. Comprising some of Hong Kong's last marshlands and with a unique and ancient prawn farming system of ponds, this is a migratory haven for birds large and small, with the highly endangered Black Faced Spoonbill wintering here and literally hundreds if not thousands of visiting ducks, cranes, swans and geese. A permit is required. Details : www.wwf.org.hk/eng/maipo.

Mount Stenhouse, Lamma Island

Have a good lunch at Shui Ke Wan (great seafood) then climb up the path to the south of the island. You can either scramble up to the top of Mount Stenhouse and get fantastic views over Hong Kong (take some water with you) or amble gently around the island and back to Shui Ke Wan. Sea Eagles, Fork Tailed Swifts and Drongos galore await you if you do.

Chinese crested tern hunting for fish in a Qinghai River

 Beijing

Simatai, Great Wall

It's one of the most picturesque parts of the wall and a great drive to get out there anyway. Climb up the wall and enjoy the view. Peregrine Falcons, Buzzards, Rosebills and all sorts of other species dart around the undergrowth.

Ritan Park, Chaoyang

Right in the heart of the city, there is a lot more going here than might at first meet the eye. Chipmunks come out late afternoon, Azure Winged Magpies flit about and I've even seen Hoopoes here. An oasis in a city jungle.

Shanghai

Yu Yuan Gardens

An amazing historic Chinese walled garden bang in the heart of Shanghai, with interesting walkways, old halls, and stone carvings packed into a small space - the art has been to make it appear far larger than it actually is. Dating back some 200 years, Hua Mei, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and other garden birds all thrive here. Best to come weekdays, late afternoon when it is surprisingly quiet.

More Information:

General China bird links site

http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp?page=l_asi_cn

China Ornithological Society

http://www.czs.ioz.ac.cn/Ornithologicae.htm

http://www.chinabird.org