H5N2 bird flu has been confirmed at a poultry farm in north China's Hebei Province. Areas within three kilometres of the farm have been sealed off.
The Ministry of Agriculture says the disease killed 4,000 chickens at the farm in Baoding City after they showed symptoms of suspected avian flu on December 17.
The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory tested samples from the farm and on Saturday confirmed the deaths were caused by the bird flu virus.
Local authorities have sterilized the infected area. Authorities say nearly 126,000 chickens have been culled and safely disposed of to prevent the virus from spreading.