Pingtan, China's second international tourism island after Hainan, lies off the coast of Fujian Province and is the closest point on the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan. As a comprehensive pilot zone for cross-Straits integration and a key hub for international trade and logistics, the island recently drew national attention during the 2025 "Vibrant China Research Tour"Fujian-themed Interview event, organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and covered by Science and Technology Daily.

Not long ago, Pingtan's coastline was in bad shape. Unchecked fishing and sprawling aquaculture operations had taken a heavy toll. "We were watching our unique coastal resources disappear—the famous sea stacks, the incredible rock formations—all of it was being damaged by pollution and habitat loss,"a local tourism official told Science and Technology Daily. So, they took action: they cleared out the illegal fish farms and worked to restore shorelines and beaches, bringing the coast back to life. Those once-barren areas have now been transformed into major attractions. Today, places like the 68 Nautical Miles scenic area—known for its stunning sea stacks and sea caves—are at the top of every visitor's list.

This ecological recovery has driven a major economic shift for local residents. Previously, many relied on traditional jobs such as shipping, aquaculture, and tunnel construction; now, they earn a living from tourism-related businesses. "2023 was a game-changer for us,"a local resident shared. "Tourism boomed that year, so many of us opened homestayhostels or started seafood restaurants. Our income has grown remarkably since then."

Tourism data reflects steady and impressive growth: in 2021, Pingtan welcomed 6.84 million visitors and earned 6.1 billion yuan in tourism revenue; by 2024, those figures rose to 10.79 million visitors and 12 billion yuan in revenue. Even in the first half of 2025 alone, the island hosted 5.4 million visitors and generated 5.532 billion yuan. To enrich travelers' experiences, attractions like the No. 22 International Yacht Marina have expanded their water sports offerings.

"We used to only offer yachts and sailing,"a marina staff member explained. "Now, we have wakeboarding, water pools, and diving—so visitors can enjoy both relaxing and active water sports experiences."

(Source: Science and Technology Daily)