Wind turbines gracefully rotate against the backdrop of Rongcheng's coastline, generating clean energy and creating a stunning winter landscape. [Photo/IC]

Rongcheng, Weihai, Shandong province, has emerged as a prime destination for migratory birds, particularly whooper swans. The city's pristine environment, characterized by excellent air quality and abundant marine resources, has made it a vital winter habitat for these elegant creatures.

In recent years, Rongcheng has been at the forefront of marine economic development, focusing on high-value-added marine food processing and advanced marine equipment manufacturing. The city's aquatic product output has ranked first among county-level cities in China for over 40 years. In the first 11 months of 2024, the output value of its shipbuilding and related industries exceeded 7.8 billion yuan ($1.06 billion).

The city's rich marine resources have also fueled the growth of its tourism industry. Yandunjiao village, located in the city, was one of seven Chinese villages on the Best Tourism Villages 2024 list formulated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization at its 122nd session of the Executive Council on Nov 11 in Cartagena, Colombia. In 2024, Rongcheng welcomed over five million tourists from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta region.

To further expand its global reach, the city has been actively promoting international trade. In the first 10 months of 2024, its trade relations extended to 179 countries and regions, with exports to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative exceeding 14 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 28.7 percent.

While pursuing economic growth, Rongcheng remains committed to environmental protection. The city has been actively promoting the construction of green factories and industrial parks, with a focus on developing zero-carbon industrial parks and zero-carbon parks.