Left: A satellite image shows the Minjiang River Estuary Wetland National Nature Reserve in April 2009. Right: A satellite map shows the reserve in June 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the early 2000s, the landscape was dominated by fish farms and ponds, appearing as vast black areas. Today, the wetland is dominated by lush green vegetation, forming a beautiful landscape alongside a blue ocean.

The municipal government of Fuzhou has been promoting the conservation and restoration of the wetland over the past 21 years, according to Wu Xiande, the mayor of Fuzhou. The city is preparing to apply for a designation as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, aiming to create a model for wetland conservation in China.