-- Guangdong has reported continued growth and innovation in the province's marine economy. Guangdong, located in southern China, has the longest coastline on the Chinese mainland, the second-largest sea area, and the third-highest number of islands, providing significant natural advantages for marine development.
Guangdong has maintained the leading position in total marine output for 30 consecutive years. According to the Guangdong Marine Economy Development Report (2025), released in June, the province’s gross marine product reached 2 trillion yuan (approximately 278.1 billion dollars) in 2024, a nominal year-on-year increase of 5.4%. This accounts for 14.1% of Guangdong’s regional GDP and 19.0% of China’s marine GDP.
Efforts to leverage marine resources remain a priority for the province.
(Image: Wind farms along the coast of Guangdong. Photo by Yang Chen.)
Guangdong has a long history of offshore fishing. In recent years, high-tech aquaculture facilities in marine ranches have contributed to increased seafood production. The deep-sea mariculture platform Hengyi No. 1, located off Donghai Island in Zhanjiang, is the province’s largest mariculture platform, designed for species such as golden pompano and mangrove red snapper. Each cubic meter of water can yield 10 to 20 kilograms of fish, with the platform capable of cultivating 600,000 to 1.2 million kilograms at a time.
In May, the aquaculture vessel Bay Area Lingding was launched in Jiangmen and will operate mainly in the Wanshan Archipelago in Zhuhai, cultivating species such as golden pompano, mangrove red snapper, and leopard coral grouper, with an expected annual output of 5,000 tons.
In 2024, Guangdong’s marine ranching industry generated a total output of 472 billion yuan (approximately 65.5 billion dollars).
In the waters off Yangjiang, hundreds of wind turbines provide energy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Yangjiang is developing a wind power base with a planned capacity of over 10 gigawatts. The combined capacity of completed and under-construction projects has reached 13 gigawatts, the highest in China.
Guangdong is also advancing its marine manufacturing industry. In Huizhou, a coastal industrial cluster integrates petrochemicals and new materials. The Daya Bay area has attracted 13 Global Fortune 500 chemical companies. ExxonMobil’s 1.6-million-ton ethylene project is operational, and the third-phase project of CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals (CSPC) is under construction.
Other marine-related manufacturing sectors are developing as well. Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology Ltd (Yunzhou-Tech) has developed unmanned surface vessels. The company was the first in China to industrialize key technologies in the USV sector. Their 40-ton unmanned vessel “Xingzhe” is capable of continuous navigation for thousands of kilometers.
China’s first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel, Mengxiang, was commissioned in Guangzhou. The Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory has launched Zhanjiang Bay No.1, a floating aquaculture platform with dynamic positioning.
(Image: Aquaculture platforms off the coast of Shantou, Guangdong. Photo by Yang Chen.)
Guangdong also emphasizes the protection of marine ecosystems to ensure sustainable development. In the Zhelang Peninsula at the Red Bay in Shanwei, local government initiatives have improved infrastructure and restored the coastal environment. Abandoned oyster farm shacks have been converted into cafés, attracting visitors and revitalizing the area.
Developing cruise and yacht tourism is part of Guangdong’s strategy to expand marine tourism. Cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai have developed clusters of yacht clubs and new business models. Over the past three years, the number of registered yachts in the province has grown by more than 130%. The Nansha International Cruise Homeport is emerging as a new landmark for cruise tourism in the Greater Bay Area.
In 2024, Guangdong’s 14 coastal cities received a combined total of 730 million visitors, up 12.8% year-on-year, generating 950 billion yuan (approximately 132 billion dollars) in total tourism revenue.
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