Hailong Bay project in Rizhao, Shandong province is first of its kind in the country to foster a green and sustainable marine ecological environment by removing bulk cargo and coal operations from the urban areas.

The Hailong Bay project spans a coastline of 1,882 meters in Rizhao and has turned the once polluted port terminal into a sightseeing belt in the city. [Photo/rznews.cn]

The total length of the coastline of the Hailong Bay project has been restored to 1,882 meters. The former "black coal yard" and the "Golden Coast" have also been restored.

Opened in 1986, Rizhao Port has two major ports, 68 production berths and a cargo handling capacity of over 400 million tons. It is a modern, comprehensive, world-class port and an important facility for coal transportation in China.

Bulk cargo and coal operations at the eastern facility of its Shijiu Port area once generated pollution and noise, which seriously affected the marine ecological environment and the life of the surrounding residents.

The coal terminal and coal operations have been moved from Shijiu Port area's eastern facility to its southern one to protect the marine ecological environment. [Photo/rznews.cn]

In 2016, the Rizhao Government and Shandong Port Group started moving the coal terminal and coal operation area to Shijiu Port area's southern facility, which is farther away from the urban area, in an effort to make the port more ecofriendly.

The move has minimized the impact of port production on urban residents' lives while reducing transportation costs for the port and its customers.

The local government has also invested heavily in enhancing the protection of the marine environment and transforming the original coal operation area into a sightseeing belt along the coast, which connects Hailong Bay with the Lighthouse Scenic Area.

The coastal sightseeing belt, which connects Hailong Bay with the Lighthouse Scenic Area in Rizhao, covers 460,000 square meters in Rizhao. [Photo/rznews.cn]