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The Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province is a favorite spot for photographers seeking to capture images of birds.

Egrets rest and breed on branches of mangroves at the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

As the first internationally important wetland in Fujian, the nature reserve protects mangroves, wetland birds, and valuable aquatic germplasm resources, spanning a total area of 2,360 hectares. It is the most diverse and best-preserved natural mangrove forest north of the Tropic of Cancer in China and a key stopover for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Egrets rest on branches of mangroves at the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

In recent years, the nature reserve has recorded 160 bird species, more than 20 of which are under national key protection. With over 20,000 birds residing or stopping over each year, the area has truly become a paradise for birds.

Dai Yuansheng, a native of Yunxiao in his 50s, has spent nearly three decades observing wildlife in the mangrove forest. He knows exactly where birds flock, when migratory birds arrive, and how the tides rise and fall. Over the years, Dai has also witnessed the remarkable ecological transformation of the mangroves.

Dai Yuansheng photographs at the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Mangroves are vital components of wetland ecosystems, providing a habitat, food, and breeding grounds for wildlife. Known as the "coastal guardians," mangroves help reduce waves and storm surges, serving as a natural link between land and sea.

In the early years, the estuary of the Zhangjiang River suffered from human disturbance, mudflat siltation, and invasive species, putting the mangroves at risk of degradation and a shrinking capacity for natural regeneration.

Photo taken in 2013 shows mangroves at the estuary of the Zhangjiang River under attack by invasive Spartina alterniflora. (Photo/Dai Yuansheng)

In June 2003, the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve was officially established. Since 2008, the nature reserve has partnered with Xiamen University to establish platforms such as a wetland ecosystem positioning station, a marine ecological field research site, and a blue carbon demonstration base.

 Photo shows a flock of black-faced spoonbills resting at the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Dai Yuansheng)

After more than 20 years of effective conservation, mangroves at the estuary of the Zhangjiang River have steadily expanded. This ecological revival has created ideal breeding conditions for birds, fish, and other wildlife, greatly enriching the region's biodiversity.

Photo taken in July 2025 shows lush mangroves at the estuary of the Zhangjiang River in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Changqian)

The mangrove restoration has brought economic benefits. Across the water on Jiazhou Island, smart agriculture, ecotourism, and B&Bs are thriving. Local villager Zhang Xueming has created a crab rice dish using mangrove crabs harvested from mangroves, attracting food lovers from all over the country with its one-of-a-kind flavor.

Photo shows a crab rice dish offered by Zhang Xueming, a local villager in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo courtesy of the convergence media center in Yunxiao county)

Since 2012, seven products from villages near the estuary of the Zhangjiang River have been recognized as geographical indication (GI) products. The annual output value of mangrove crab, one of the GI products, exceeds 100 million yuan (about $13.94 million).

Photo shows giant mud crabs, a geographical indication (GI) product in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Xie Qinwei)