The main streets of Fuding, a city surrounded by lush hills in East China's Fujian province, were nearly empty under the sweltering summer heat. But a dock in the city's southeast was packed with tourists, all of whom were waiting for a ferry to Yushan Island.
An increasingly popular resort, the island boasts a rugged coastline, extensive grassland and clear lakes, luring in flocks of visitors each year.
The booming tourism industry is attributed in part to ecological conservation.
The island's shore was once strewn with rotting trash and fishing equipment, a discomforting scene that prompted large-scale cleanup campaigns across the island.
After years of effort, the garbage was removed, a storage yard for fishing equipment was built and construction began on sewage treatment facilities. The cleanup campaigns have brought back the picturesque island and improved the living environment for villagers and holidaymakers.
"Yushan Island has become a popular destination after an ecosystem restoration," says Chen Weixin, deputy Party secretary of Yushan township.
To better develop its environment, Yushan Island has also collaborated with more than 10 universities in the country in a pilot project on rural vitalization.
University students came to the island, participating in a slew of projects to improve the island's infrastructure and enrich tourism resources, such as developing souvenirs and designing packaging for local specialties.
Spice Girls star Mel B signs 'six
Maple Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada’s Stanley Cup hopes with drought now at 30 years
Geri and Christian Horner 'in talks to film fly
Russia edges toward a possible offensive on Kharkiv
King Charles is keen to saddle up for Trooping The Colour as he returns to public duties this week
Duplantis sets a pole vault world record in the opening Diamond League meet of the season
Can US cities fine homeless people for sleeping outside?
AP Photos: The skies fill with color at a Chinese kite festival
Father of Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen charged with abusing one of his other children, lawyer says
North Carolina officer fatally shoots man suspected of killing other man