Hidden within the Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve in Hainan lies a true wonder: the largest contiguous area of mangroves and the greatest variety of tree species of any nature reserve in China. These trees are nature’s own coastal guardians. With their knotted roots gripping the mudflats, they protect shorelines, lock away carbon and nurture a staggering variety of life. It is currently flowering and fruiting season. Look closely and you will see mangrove fruits dangling from the branches and bright blossoms adding splashes of color. Among them grows the "giant panda of mangroves" – Lumnitzera littorea. Rising sea levels and changing waterways once pushed this species towards crisis, with a germination rate of just 0.3%. But thanks to dedicated cultivation, this figure has now soared past 17%. The population is recovering, one seedling at a time. To date, Hainan has restored or created some 5,800 hectares of mangroves.