Dachen Island is in the East China Sea, 52 kilometers southeast of Jiaojiang district of Taizhou. [Photo/Tide News]

Dachen Island and surrounding islands administered by Taizhou in Zhejiang province, were recently recognized as a national-level beautiful bay. That added to Zhejiang's total of five such bays and placed it third in the country.

The island is renowned for the innovative ocean plastic management model, Blue Circle, which won the United Nations' Champion of the Earth award in 2023.

This eco-friendly initiative originated on Dachen Island and led to the establishment of stations for collecting and storing marine waste, encouraging locals and tourists to dispose of plastic waste responsibly.

With its increasing popularity, Dachen Island is striking the perfect balance between conservation and development.

The Zhejiang Dachen Island Development and Construction Group has been spearheading various ecological restoration projects since 2020, including slope reinforcements, pier renovations, and forest transformations.

The Beautiful Bay Initiative has triggered a tourism boom on Dachen Island, with the restoration of historical sites, the establishment of round-island greenways, and the construction of essential tourism infrastructure.

Future visitors can look forward to panoramic views at book bars and hotels, as well as a plethora of historical and cultural experiences on the island, according to the Zhejiang Dachen Island Development and Construction Group.

Moreover, the island's commitment to green and low-carbon practices is evident through its pioneering initiatives in ocean blue carbon trading and the establishment of the "Jiaolan Carbon" asset trading platform.

These efforts, including the issuance of "Jiaolan Loans" for green carbon credit loans, underscore the island's growing value as a sustainable and environmentally conscious destination.