The Bat Research and Conservation Centre is situated about 100 km W of Beijing. It was designed by Professor Shuyi Zhang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and East China Normal University, and is reached by an imposing gateway.

The Centre is built in the shape of a bat.

An entrance hall includes a small museum and poster display.

From the entrance hall, it's possible to look into a large flight room that houses a pool where fishing bats (Myotis ricketti) feed.

The bats have huge feet which they use for fishing with. They will be filmed by the BBC for a series entitled 'Wild China' next week.

Other facilities include an experimental room (currently housing equipment for research on magnetic orientation),

and dormitories

The Centre is near a cave that shelters fishing bats and greater horseshoe bats. Jinshuo releases a bat caught in a harp trap.

It is protected by two fierce guard dogs.

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