What is Hainan province establishing regarding conservation?

Hainan province is establishing China's first tropical marine national park.

What does the new national park law permit?

The national park law permits the inclusion of specific marine areas in national parks and supports the selection of candidate zones based on natural ecological distribution.

How is Hainan's ocean economy performing?

Hainan's ocean economy showed vigorous growth, increasing by 7.9 percent last year, driven by emerging sectors like deep-sea technology and offshore wind power.

Home / Environment / China Charts New Course: First Tropical Marine National Park

China Charts New Course: First Tropical Marine National Park

7 Feb

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Summary

Hainan is establishing China's first tropical marine national park.
The park signifies a shift to integrated land-sea conservation efforts.
Hainan's ocean economy shows robust growth, driven by new industries.

China Charts New Course: First Tropical Marine National Park

China is expanding its national park system to include marine environments, with Hainan province leading the way by establishing a tropical marine national park. This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant shift towards an integrated land-sea conservation approach.

The national park law, implemented on January 1, 2026, now permits the designation of marine areas, creating a clear pathway for Hainan to enhance its rich coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.

This development coincides with vigorous growth in Hainan's ocean economy, which expanded by 7.9% last year. The deep-sea oil and gas industry, in particular, has seen substantial gains, with projects like Deep Sea No 1 achieving significant output.