Sky and sea in perfect harmony — Xiamen's stunning seascape steals the spotlight, over and over. [Photo/VCG]

Xiamen's coastline was the star of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with visitors chasing sunsets along the Island Ring Boulevard, sailing in Wuyuan Bay, and taking in sweeping sea views in Tong'an Bay — all captured and shared widely on social media. 

From restoring Wuyuan Bay to upgrading the entire shoreline, Xiamen has made ecological restoration part of its daily tidal rhythm.

Once a neglected, barren tidal flat that locals generally avoided, Wuyuan Bay has been transformed over more than two decades into a textbook case of urban ecological restoration in China. Huli district started by tackling pollution at its source — upgrading sewage systems, separating stormwater from wastewater, renovating over 430 kilometers of pipelines, and treating every outfall into the sea. 

Combined with wetland restoration, replanting, and biodiversity protection, these efforts brought the ecosystem back to life. Wuyuan Bay has since been recognized as a national model for coastal restoration and green development. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, it hosted 225 visiting delegations from home and abroad.

Xiamen has become the first city in China to have all four of its bays recognized as national-level beautiful bays. Through integrated land-sea management, watershed treatment, and outfall remediation, the proportion of coastal waters with good water quality has reached 93.8 percent. 

The city has also systematically protected rare species and restored beaches and wetlands. In 2024 it was named a "Charming City for Biodiversity" and joined the "Cities with Nature" global platform. 

Xiamen is also the only city in the world where Chinese white dolphins can be seen in urban settings. Today, its bays offer clean waters, healthy shores, and a harmonious balance between people and the sea — making the city a desirable place to live, visit, and do business.