On July 12, at the opening ceremony of Zhejiang Week in the China Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, the Ministry of Natural Resources, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and Zhejiang Provincial Government jointly released Zhejiang's pioneering practices in implementing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains can be mountains of gold and silver”.

The “Blue Bay Initiative” from Dongtou District, Wenzhou City, was highlighted as a key case study, presenting China’s approach, Zhejiang’s solutions, and Wenzhou’s model for harmonious human-nature coexistence to the global community, thereby contributing insights to worldwide ecological governance and sustainable development.

Besides, four more major cases from Zhejiang Province were featured, including ecological restoration of mining sites across Zhejiang, Anji’s bamboo ecosystem revitalization, landscape transformation at the headwaters of the Oujiang River, and Deqing’s reintroduction of crested ibises.

Dongtou has systematically restored coastal ecosystems through its “Blue Bay” program. Initiatives such as constructing a “Ten-Mile Wetland” and building eco-seawalls created China’s only ecological transition zone featuring southern mangroves and northern willows. This effort increased recorded bird species by 56, significantly enriched biodiversity, and earned Dongtou recognition as a national “Harmonious and Beautiful Island”.

Concurrently, Dongtou leveraged digital technologies for intelligent marine management and innovated investment mechanisms to convert ecological gains into economic benefits. The district has developed 70 boutique garden villages and 658 homestays, with annual income exceeding 100,000 yuan per household, enabling fishermen to achieve prosperity locally.

Wenzhou boasts abundant bay resources across 8,649 km² of sea area. Located on the East Asia-Australasia Flyway, it hosts over 100,000 migratory birds annually. Notably, Wenzhou is China’s only city with bays consecutively selected in all three national “Beautiful Bay” assessments—Dongtou Bays (2021), Nanji Islands Bays (2022), and Yanpu Bay (2023).

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “lucid waters and lush mountains can be mountains of gold and silver” concept. Wenzhou has been actively implementing President Xi Jinping’s thoughts on eco-civilization, adopting Xiamen’s best practices and utilizing the “Blue Bay” initiative to enhance ecological quality and drive socio-economic green transition.

Wenzhou has secured six national and three provincial “Blue Bay” projects, with 1.4 billion yuan from central finance and 106 million yuan from provincial funds. The completed Dongtou project, a national model for marine restoration, was exhibited at the 70th-anniversary achievement showcase of the PRC and listed among Zhejiang’s inaugural best practices for common prosperity.