On a summer day in Qinhuangdao, a gentle sea breeze blows across the coastline. Offshore wind turbines spin steadily, while beneath the waves, marine ranches teem with life. Near the shore, white sails dot the water as sailors compete, and beachgoers create a lively atmosphere. This vibrant coastal scene unfolds along 184.88 kilometers of shoreline, painting a dynamic picture of the city.
Known for its sea and tourism, Qinhuangdao has set a clear course to thrive by leveraging the ocean. The city is focusing on three key sectors: ecological aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, and the integration of culture, sports, and tourism. Through industrial integration, business model innovation, and ecological improvement, Qinhuangdao is activating the "blue engine" of high-quality marine economic development.
Ocean Ranching and Fishing: Building a Strong "Blue Granary"
In the offshore waters of the Beidaihe New Area, thousands of meters of aquaculture buoys stretch towards the horizon, with dozens of fishing boats operating in the area. Chen Jichao, a scallop farmer with over a decade of experience, inspects his net cages with a satisfied smile. "In the past, fishing was just a way to get by, barely making a living. Now, with supportive policies and a healthier marine environment, our wallets are fatter, and we have more motivation," he says. These favorable policies stem from the national-level marine ranches established in Qinhuangdao. In recent years, the city has built several national marine ranch demonstration zones and standardized aquaculture bases, guiding fishermen to transition from extensive offshore fishing to more refined, controlled farming, turning the long coastline into a "blue granary" for income growth.
Inside a land-based, factory-style aquaculture facility in Changli County, circulating seawater flows gently through tanks. Sea cucumbers, turbot, and whiteleg shrimp are thriving in the controlled environment. "Previously, we relied on outdoor ponds. If the weather turned bad, we suffered losses. Now, with these temperature-controlled workshops, we can manage water quality and temperature precisely. We're no longer at the mercy of the weather," says farmer Han Hongsheng. Changli is a major aquaculture county in Hebei Province, home to 32 aquaculture enterprises with 600,000 square meters of factory facilities. This controlled environment allows for the off-season harvest of sea cucumbers and three annual harvests of whiteleg shrimp. The seed stock produced here supports farming operations across the city. Through a combination of factory-based recirculating aquaculture and offshore raft farming, Changli County’s marine ranching industry generates an annual output value of CNY 2 billion. This development not only extends the fishery industry chain, boosting the regional economy, but also spurs the growth of supporting industries like deep processing and recreational sea fishing, creating over 1,000 local jobs.
The marine economy extends beyond farming. The deep processing of aquatic products in Changli has also seen a leap forward. At Qinhuangdao Meiyi Food Co., Ltd., located in the Changli Industrial Park, workers are busy with washing, shelling, and sterilizing seafood. As a key agricultural leading enterprise, Meiyi Food has been featured three times on CCTV's agricultural channel. Its seasoned aquatic products, made from local fresh octopus and vegetables, are popular in overseas markets. "Last year, we processed over 2,000 tons of various seafood, exporting to South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and other countries, with export value reaching nearly CNY 70 million," says company Chairman Liang Xiaoye. Data shows that in 2025, the city's total aquatic product output reached 385,000 tons, with a total fishery output value exceeding CNY 8.4 billion. From offshore raft farming to indoor recirculating aquaculture and deep processing, from extensive methods to specialized processing, and from the primary to the secondary industry, Qinhuangdao is continuously revitalizing its marine resources and strengthening its "blue granary."
Pursuing Green Energy: Forging a Strong "Offshore Energy Core"
In the waters off Changli County, sunlight glints off the sea surface, where rows of photovoltaic piles are neatly anchored to the seabed, supporting a vast expanse of blue solar panels. As a benchmark offshore renewable energy project in Hebei Province, the Qinhuangdao 1,800 MW offshore solar demonstration pilot project is progressing steadily and efficiently. Project worker Li Xiangtian explains, "The positioning error for each pile is controlled to the centimeter level. This 'steel forest' of offshore solar can withstand wind and waves and operate stably for 25 years." Upon completion, the project is expected to generate 2.88 billion kWh of electricity annually, saving 780,000 tons of standard coal each year. This offshore solar installation doesn't monopolize the sea area. Wide navigation channels are left between the piles, allowing for smooth water flow and free passage for fishing boats and shellfish rafts. An official from the Changli County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau notes that the project achieves "solar power generation on the surface and shellfish farming below," ensuring the sea area remains unobstructed and catches are not reduced, creating dual income from the same space. This is the "fishery-solar complementarity, wind-solar co-location" model promoted by Qinhuangdao, which avoids competing with fisheries for space and instead fosters a symbiotic relationship between industry and the marine ecosystem, resolving the conflict between new energy development and aquaculture while maximizing the economic value of every inch of sea.
Shifting focus from the sea to the coastal docks, another driver of blue development is surging. The smooth operation of port logistics provides strong support for improving the efficiency of the entire marine economy industry chain. At the end of March, a batch of 22.8 tons of sorbitol solution containers were loaded onto a ship at Qinhuangdao Port. They were transported to Dalian Port via an intra-coastal feeder service before being transferred to an international ocean-going vessel for export, marking the successful implementation of the port's first "water-to-water" transshipment business. This model breaks the previous limitation of long-distance land transport to other major ports, allowing local products to be exported efficiently from their doorstep. On May 30, with a ship's horn, the vessel "Chang Heng 26," loaded with wheel hubs produced by CITIC Dicastal, sailed from Qinhuangdao Port's New Harbor Container Terminal to Tianjin Port. For this operation, the New Harbor Terminal collaborated with Tianjin Port, Shanghai Puhai Shipping, and CMA CGM to create an innovative "road-to-water" logistics channel. They used an integrated transport model of "empty containers arriving at the port, local stuffing, and returning on the same voyage," ensuring seamless connections and significantly reducing cargo turnaround time and improving transport efficiency.
Ports are the key hubs connecting the marine economy to the outside world. Since the beginning of this year, terminals at Qinhuangdao Port have been continuously improving their regional shipping routes and optimizing vessel deployment. This not only empowers the transformation and upgrading of port-side industries but also creates a "front port, back yard" synergy with the offshore wind energy cluster. New energy equipment like wind turbine blades, photovoltaic brackets, and power cables are rapidly assembled and distributed using the efficient water transport network. From seabed photovoltaic piles to coastal cargo terminals, from clean green electricity production to efficient water logistics, Qinhuangdao is deeply cultivating the blue low-carbon industry with a whole-industry-chain mindset, forging a powerful "offshore energy core" and turning the vast ocean into a core driver of the city's high-quality development.
Integrating Culture, Sports, and Tourism: Igniting "Year-Round Coastal Fever"
The sea breeze is refreshing, and white sails dot the horizon. Every spring and summer, the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao come alive with racing boats, creating a unique seascape. On June 20, the 2026 China Family Sailboat Race Qinhuangdao International Tourist Port Station officially began at the West Port Garden. Over 40 families of sailing enthusiasts from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Sichuan, Liaoning, and other regions gathered on the coast, enjoying a sailing event that combined competitive fun with family warmth. Beijing participant Liang Siyin said after the race, "The waters here are open and the waves are gentle. The port facilities are excellent, and the event organization is thorough. The whole experience of playing and competing has been very pleasant. The sea breeze and sunset sails at West Port are especially memorable. We'll definitely come back for a family vacation, even outside of race season."
"In the past, tourists came to Qinhuangdao mainly in summer just to see the sea and play in the water. Now, with rising consumer demand, more and more visitors are coming to experience sailing, participate in sea events, and enjoy recreational sea sports. These regular maritime sports activities keep Qinhuangdao bustling all year round," says He Chang, General Manager of Hegang Sailing (Qinhuangdao) Sports Culture Development Co., Ltd., the event organizer. Currently, the city facilitates over 100,000 sea sports experiences annually. Various sea events continuously attract participating teams and sightseers, directly driving spending on accommodation, dining, and leisure. Maritime sports events have become a new growth driver for the coastal economy.
Beyond the sports industry, Qinhuangdao leverages its high-quality coastline to break the seasonal limitations of traditional coastal sightseeing. By integrating culture, sports, and tourism and upgrading the entire destination, the city continues to unlock the comprehensive benefits of its marine cultural tourism. Waves gently lap the sandy beach. Aranya's white chapel stands by the sea, its Lonely Library faces the azure waters, and the UCCA Dune Art Museum is nestled among the golden sands. These iconic buildings, combined with art exhibitions, create a unique immersive cultural resort experience. "Buying a coffee here and sitting in the library to quietly read a book makes time slow down. It's incredibly healing," says Liu Jing, a tourist from Shanxi. With its unique cultural landmarks and artistic atmosphere, Aranya consistently ranks among the top short-haul tourist destinations in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Nandaihe International Entertainment Center and Shanhaiguan Roidom continue to upgrade their sea-based amusement rides, solidifying their status as premier coastal water-play destinations in the region, with each park attracting over a million visitors annually. Yutian Qilihai, focusing on nighttime performances and parent-child activities, has also achieved a strong market response. Qinhuangdao has successfully transformed from a single summer resort into a year-round, deeply integrated model of immersive coastal vacations, where the popularity of coastal culture and tourism continues to rise.
From the shimmering offshore solar field to the bountiful marine ranches and the vibrant, sail-filled coastline, Qinhuangdao is turning its sea into a "blue engine" of development, rich in resources and diverse in business models.