Changdao Island in Yantai, a coastal prefecture-level city in East China's Shandong province, lies between the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, and is known for its clean sandy beaches and limestone cliffs.

In recent years, the local government has made great strides to protect and restore the ecological environment in the area, and continues to explore a new path that puts ecology first while pursuing green development.

Villagers in Nanzhuang village on Changdao Island have benefited greatly from the development of eco-friendly fishing and tourism industries. The fishing village has adopted a new development model to promote local tourism based on local conditions such as high-end homestays, which offer visitors a place where they can gain an authentic experience of daily life on the island while helping transform Nanzhuang from an impoverished village into a famous tourism destination.

Since 2018, Changdao Island has promoted the strict protection and restoration of ecosystems and  natural shorelines, and local authorities have combed some 89 kilometers of the island's shoreline. In 2019, the island has become a base for practicing the "clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets" concept.

The improvement of the local ecological environment has promoted the development of the local culture and tourism industry, and a number of new tourism projects have settled in Nanzhuang village, which are expected to promote the integrated development of agriculture and tourism, and inject impetus into the village's social and economic development.

Earlier this year, the Marine Carbon Sink Research and Development Experimental Base was unveiled on Changdao Island, which is expected to make breakthroughs in the construction of an international carbon-free island, and promote the development of carbon-free tourism, green energy resources, carbon sink fisheries, and blue carbon (ocean carbon sink).

Changdao Island in Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, lies between the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, and is known for its clean sandy beaches and limestone cliffs. [Photo/Dazhong News]