The Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay National Ocean Park has recently been granted approval from the related national department.

    Located in the central north of Jiaozhou Bay, this ocean park covers a total area of 20,011 hectares, including the maritime area of 19,971.77 hectares and a land area of 39.23 hectares. The maritime area of the park accounts for about 54% of the total maritime area of Jiaozhou Bay. Priority is given to conserve the north wetland and the Dagu River estuary wetland inside the protection circle of Jiaozhou Bay, including their areas and environmental quality. Considering the natural environment characteristics and social and economic development in the maritime area of Jiaozhou Bay, three functional zones have been divided in the ocean park, namely the key conservation zone of 5,585 hectares, the ecological and resource recovery zone of 3,116 hectares, and moderate utilization zone of 11,310 hectares.

    Because of its special geographical location, ecosystem, biological resources, non-living resources and ecotourism conditions, the Jiaozhou Bay Ocean Park has a rather high value of conservation. There are many varieties of wetlands including the shallow sea wetland, inter-tidal wetland, super-tidal wetland, estuarine wetland and artificial wetland (culture pond, salt pan) in the park, which are an important breeding place, wintering ground, and stopover site during migration for birds. The wetland ecosystem has a very high service function and value.

    With favorable nutritional conditions and abundant bait food, the sea area of Jiaozhou Bay Ocean Park is an important place for many commercial fishes, shrimps and crabs and siphonopods to lay eggs, forage and rear their infants and has protection value in fishery resources and biodiversity.

    In terms of tourism resources, the ecotourism in the Jiaozhou Bay Ocean Park is based on favorable coastal resources and ecological tourism patterns and has extremely artistic ornamental value, historical and cultural value, scientific value and recreational value. The marine cultural tourism resources are abundant and enjoy a very high historical and cultural value.

    The Jiaozhou Bay National Ocean Park is the second national level ocean park following the national ocean park in the west coast approved in 2014 as well as the largest Chinese national semi-closed bay ocean park. Currently, there are 6 special marine conservation areas in Qingdao and the total area has reached 804.71 square kilometers.