A new lease on life for Tidal Wetland Park in Shenzhen

The Tidal Wetland Park at Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District opened to the public Friday after renovation.

Located along the western section of the Shenzhen Bay Coastal Leisure Belt, the Tidal Wetland is one of 14 themed parks within Shenzhen Bay Park and the only one that lets visitors experience the coastal wetland's ebb and flow up close.

A bench made from recycled materials at the renovated Tidal Wetland in Shenzhen Bay Park. Photos by Wang Haolan

The park's small mangrove area, covering just 0.2 hectares, faced multiple environmental challenges: invasive species such as mangrove apple (Sonneratia apetala) and Indian three‑leaf Derris (Derris trifoliata) had encroached on native mangrove habitats; waterway connectivity was poor; and silt had accumulated.

Walkways were damaged and hard to traverse, and the site lacked basic educational signage and recreational facilities.

After nearly 10 months of restoration work, the intertidal mangrove ecosystem has been rehabilitated and biodiversity has been significantly improved. The project also introduced seating and signage made from recycled materials — including repurposed plastic meal boxes and milk‑tea cups — bringing the park's zero‑waste ethos to life.

A mural depicting commonly seen birds and mangrove species found in Shenzhen.

The renovation project has restored the park's native mangrove ecosystem and created new resting and foraging habitats for birds.

An installation made from recycled materials, designed to attract insects and provide nesting sites.

A staff member of the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation leads a guided tour for journalists at the park on Friday.

The project was funded by the Qingshan Public Welfare Special Fund of the China Environmental Protection Foundation and operated by the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation.

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