Visitors at the Xixi Wetland museum watch a documentary on wetland conservation on Tuesday. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]

The park's 21-kilometer greenway and free-entry policies for local residents have drawn over 55 million visitors since 2005, generating 2.4 billion yuan in revenue.

Guangzhou's Haizhu Wetland, once a polluted orchard, now thrives as a biodiversity hub, documenting 835 plant species and 194 bird species, including two newly discovered insects. Its "Haizhu model" of nature education — a collaboration between governments, schools, and NGOs— has hosted 1.6 million participants through courses on traditional culture and ecological conservation.

"Our volunteer programs train citizens to become nature ambassadors, fostering a deeper connection between urban life and the environment," said Feng Baoying, deputy principal of Haizhu wetland nature school, awarded for her innovative environmental advocacy.