Inspectors from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), who are in Pingtan investigating its ecological civilization, said they were all dazzled by its beautiful natural landscapes as well as ecological conservation efforts.

UNIDO experts listen to an introduction about Tannan Bay, a tourist resort in Pingtan, Aug 27. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

The experts toured a number of destinations, including the Huandao (Island Ring) Road, Yuandangao Beach at Tannan Bay, an afforestation project and construction sites of the National Sea Island Research Center, as well as a utility pipeline project under Tanxi Road.

Socorro Atega Tan, who was one of the most picture-taking of the inspectors, said the sceneries on Huandao Road and Tannan Bay left her with a fairly deep impression.

What surprised the juries more, however, were Pingtan's remarkable ecological protection efforts.

Jariya Sukhapan from Thailand said a multitude of trees had been chopped down in her country, and she hoped Pingtan could protect its forest resources.

Socorro said that Pingtan's successful planting of pittosporum tobiras on barren mountains was really an eye-opener for her, as she had only seen the trees near coastlines back in her motherland, which is the Philippines.

"Pingtan is gorgeous. This inspection trip is also a learning experience for me,” she said.