A panoramic view of Tangdao Bay in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/VCG]

The west coast coastal bay area in Qingdao, Shandong province, has been recognized as a national-level Beautiful Bay, marking another step in the city's efforts to improve its marine environment and enhance public access to the waterfront.

Located in Qingdao West Coast New Area, the bay area stretches about 91 kilometers along the coast and covers roughly 500 square kilometers of sea. It encompasses Shique Bay, Tangdao Bay and Lingshan Bay.

Lingshan Bay was named the most outstanding Beautiful Bay case in the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's first batch of selections in 2022. Its experience was later extended to surrounding coastal areas, helping drive broader environmental improvements across the waterfront.

Measures have included river restoration, upgrades to sewage systems and regular coastal cleanup programs. The proportion of nearshore waters rated as good or excellent has remained at 100 percent since 2018.

Biodiversity has also improved. Surveys have recorded 481 species, while the area is now home to 11 national-level marine ranches. In 2024, a seagrass bed covering about 300 hectares was discovered in Tangdao Bay, the largest known eelgrass distribution area in Shandong province.

More than 86 kilometers of accessible waterfront have also been developed, creating more beaches, wetlands and coastal public spaces for residents and visitors.

The area was recently visited by participants attending a parallel session of the 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum in Qingdao.