Yangpu Port in Danzhou, part of south China’s Hainan Province, is developing into an international shipping hub, and currently is undergoing an expansion project - the construction of a new container terminal. 

A container ship making its way towards Yangpu Port. (Photo: Yuan Chen / Hainan Daily)

In order to minimize the impact on the marine ecological system, the coral originally found near Yangpu Port is being relocated to the waters of nearby Linqiangshi Island.

Li Zhensong, dive team leader for the coral restoration project, checked on the replanted coral recently, and said that it is doing quite well despite the impact of recent Typhoon Talim.

The expansion project at Yangpu Port, which began in January, is a key measure speeding the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, which serves as a vital window on China’s high-level opening up and economic reform. Currently, 43 domestic and international trade shipping routes are operating from Yangpu Port, reaching all major shipping destinations in China and Southeast Asia.

After completion, slated for 2025, the Yangpu Port container terminal will have an annual capacity of over 5 million TEUs, giving it the potential to become an international hub for large scale container ships.

During construction, the port is putting a major emphasis on environmental protection and coral restoration, with the project to relocate endangered coral to the marine nature reserve near Linqiangshi Island in progress since February. The restoration project will continue for three years at an estimated cost of over 17 million yuan (about $2.4 million).

According to Miao Zhiyuan, manager of the coral restoration project, as of June 17, a total of 20,403 corals have been replanted and 902 artificial coral reef plates have been placed in the waters of the reserve. On July 7, the coral replanting project passed an expert review.

As part of the project, online monitoring systems will be established in both the Xiaochantan area of Yangpu Port and the coral replanting area, collecting necessary ecological data for future analysis of coral replanting and restoration work.

Often called “rainforests of the sea”, coral reefs are one of the most valuable marine ecosystems, renowned for their diversity and their ability to safeguard an incredible variety of marine species.

A school of fish flits through the coral in the waters of Boundary Island, Lingshui. (Photo: Wang Chenglong / Hainan Daily)

The island province of Hainan has long focused on the conservation of coral reefs. In January, local authorities issued a three-year plan to protecte and restore coral reefs, making Hainan a leader in the development of a national ecological civilization pilot zone and boosting the development of a green, low-carbon Free Trade Port.