Every winter, Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve, the largest single mangrove area in China, is an important stop for international migratory birds.

In recent years, a variety of waterbirds have been feeding on the tidal flats in the nature reserve, and even rare birds such as spoon-billed sandpipers and black-faced spoonbills have appeared.

"The return of these rare waterfowl, which are particularly sensitive to the environment, shows that the mangrove ecosystem is becoming increasingly stable and the ecological functions are recovering and improving," said Wu Xiaodong, chief of the protection management section of the Zhanjiang Mangrove Reserve Administration.

The protection and restoration of mangroves is only a microcosm of Zhanjiang's vigorous promotion of environmental protection.

Since 2019, Zhanjiang's surface water and drinking water sources at the county level and above have maintained a 100 percent rate of excellent quality.

Since the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), the air quality of Zhanjiang has remained excellent. In 2021, the city's air quality ranked first in Guangdong.

From January to August this year, the air quality of Zhanjiang was further improved. The air quality index was 99.2 percent, and the PM2.5 concentration has been at its best level in recent years and continued to rank first in Guangdong.

The industries in Zhanjiang have also adopted a green concept in overall development. One example is the construction of the hydrogen-based shaft furnace project of Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel on the city's Donghai Island, which is a zero-carbon demonstration plant.