Haikou City is situated in the northern part of Hainan Island, bordered by Wenchang City to the east, Ding’an County to the south, and Chengmai County to the west. It faces the Qiongzhou Strait and Guangdong Province across the sea to the north. Originating from the Han Dynasty and established as a port at the end of the Song Dynasty, Haikou has a history dating back over nine hundred years. The name “Haikou” first emerged during the Song Dynasty, indicating its location near the confluence of rivers and the sea. Throughout history, Haikou has been known as the “Water City,” standing as a testament to its reliance on waterways and its strategic position by the river and sea.

The city’s development is intricately tied to its wetlands and water systems. Approximately thirteen thousand years ago, the volcano group in the island’s northern region concluded its volcanic activity, shaping Haikou’s present-day tropical volcanic landscape. Notable ecological assets include the Dongzhaigang International Important Wetland and the Yangshan Volcanic Lava Wetland. Haikou’s commitment to ecological civilization has garnered international recognition, culminating in its designation as one of the initial eighteen international wetland cities during the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on October 25, 2018. This recognition has elevated the city’s global standing, leading to enhanced well-being and pride among its residents, along with a plethora of domestic and international accolades.

Innovative approaches to wetland protection education have been developed. The establishment of the Haikou Wuyuan River Wetland Education Center marked one of the first three demonstration projects under the national “Wetland Education Center Project.Based on collaboration with non-governmental organizations, especially Ant Forest, a wetland-focused protection project engaged over 13 million users in energy exchange, explored wetland carbon trading, and encouraged public participation in wetland protection and restoration. A total of over 10 popular science books were published on wetland conservation, including efforts in Haikou. Intellectual property protection initiatives resulted in the successful registration of seven trademarks, including Meishe River Wetland. In 2020, Haikou Wetland received the Paulson Sustainable Development Award for Nature Conservation. On October 11, 2021, the promotional video of the blue-tailed bee-eaters was shown online during the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Furthermore, various educational venues, such as the mangrove museum, and wetland schools were established, along with the formation of a volunteer service team and wetland protection volunteer service stations.  Over ten thousand volunteers participated in a total of 507 activities promoting wetland conservation, contributing to a cumulative service duration exceeding 35,000 hours. Over 480,000 copies of wetland protection materials have been distributed to citizens, benefiting over 140,000 individuals. In addition, annual activities commemorating the World Wetland Day, including hosting China’s celebration of the 2019 World Wetland Day in Haikou, have further promoted wetland conservation efforts.