Since 2003, Maoming has been stepping up efforts to turn Shuidong Bay into a "beautiful bay" by focusing on improving its ecosystems. The bay is the largest ecological estuary and urban bay on the mainland coast of China.

Through initiatives such as mangrove restoration planting, dredging, pollution interception projects, the cleaning of fish ponds, shrimp pond regulation, strengthening of mangrove patrols, and public awareness campaigns, Maoming has restored over 280 hectares of mangrove forests, turning Shuidong Bay's mangrove forest into one of the largest contiguous artificial mangrove planting bases in the country.

Maoming has also strengthened the protection of the Shuidong Bay mangrove wetlands by establishing the Maoming Shuidong Bay Provincial Wetland Park, covering an area of approximately 3,501.62 hectares.

With the gradual improvement of the ecological environment in the Shuidong Bay mangrove wetlands, it has become a habitat for migratory birds, with the numbers of migratory birds and fishes increasing year by year.

In 2018, the Shuidong Bay mangrove reserve was recognized as one of the "top 10 birdwatching sites in Guangdong province" by the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau. Shuidong Bay has been included in the list of key bays for improvement under the national beautiful bay enhancement action.

Seagulls inhabit Shuidong Bay. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]