Once a fishing village, Xiamen’s Wuyuan Bay has been transformed into a waterfront featuring a marina, beach and wetland. For Cristián Gabriel Castillo Vásquez, a PhD student in Marine Affairs from Chile, the transformation reflects how the city brings marine culture and urban development together.

During the 2026 World Ocean Week in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Vásquez highlighted the role of government, academia and businesses in the bay’s restoration. He sees Wuyuan Bay as an example of China’s efforts to restore marine ecosystems while building a closer connection between the ocean and city life.