Intl leisure island in Zhuhai awaits visitors

Sanjiao Island in the Wanshan Archipelago has ushered in a new stage in its development, as the new shipping route running between Jiuzhou Port Passenger Terminal and the island officially opened for operation on Feb 13.

Sanjiao Island, also known as Changqin Island, is the first uninhabited island in China that was developed under the "public welfare + tourism" model. The 0.87-square-kilometer (0.34-sq-mile) island went through ecological renovations and development over the last few years at a cost of 2.2 billion yuan ($320 million).

Of note, the island's ecological renovation project was listed as one of the Top 10 Ecological Renovation Demonstrative Cases of Guangdong Province in 2022.

Supporting facilities, such as passenger ports, helipads, a marine monitoring center, beachside commercial streets, lakeside camping bases, tent hotels, RV camps, and the Sea Breeze Music Plaza, have also begun operation.

The island's tourist service center is scheduled to finish construction in April, while a themed hotel will begin operation on May 1 and the music hall is expected to finish construction in October.

High-quality music and cultural resources, especially those from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, have been introduced to the island so that it can develop its cultural fashion industry.

Themed music activities are planned to take place on the island every month, according to Zhang Hanyu of Zhuhai Jiuzhou Holdings' Blue Marine Tourism Development Group, and operator of the island. Last year, an electronic music party as well as Samba and sports carnivals were held on the island, attracting hordes of music enthusiasts.

Zhang noted that the enterprise has achieved strategic cooperation with the South China Headquarters of the Chinese Yachting Association to build a training base on Sanjiao Island. The base will have 200 berths, and will strive to become a distinctive benchmark island wharf in the Greater Bay Area.

In addition, a total investment of 500 million yuan ($73 million) will go to the Jiuzhou Floating Island Marine Tourism project that covers around 50 hectares of sea area west of Sanjiao Island. Phase I of the project will get half of the investment and will be built into an immersive themed marine ranch. It will feature ecological culture, recreational fishing, a marine park, science popularization facilities, and an underwater park.