Visitors gather at Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao to admire seagulls this winter. [Photo/VCG]

The annual winter arrival of seagulls is driving a vibrant tourism economy in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, turning bird-watching into an extensive cultural and consumption chain.

The ongoing Seagull Season festival in the city has transformed this natural phenomenon into a major tourist attraction. It has launched themed transportation, including a "seagull high-speed rail" and special bus routes, creating a comprehensive travel experience. The festival has nine types of activities, from guided tours to dining, encouraging longer visitor stays and boosting winter spending in catering, accommodation, and retail. The series of activities, which began in November last year, will run through late March.

Seagull-watching boosts catering, accommodation, and retail consumption in Qingdao. [Photo/Dazhong News]

This model is being replicated elsewhere in the province. Rongcheng in Weihai has developed five themed travel routes centered on its swan population, allowing visitors to enjoy coastal scenery and local culture.

The success is also rooted in dedicated ecological conservation. For example, in Dongying's Yellow River Delta, ongoing efforts to restore wetlands and control invasive species have revived biodiversity. This healthy ecosystem, now hosting spectacular bird gatherings, attracted over 1.16 million tourists in 2024, and 271,000 visitors from October to early December last year.

By protecting its winged visitors, Shandong has turned ecological achievements into sustainable economic growth, demonstrating the powerful synergy between conservation and tourism development.