A bird's eye view of Dachen Island, 52 kilometers from the urban area of Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn] 

All guestrooms have already been booked for the upcoming Labor Day holiday, said Shi Zhaorong, who runs a homestay on Dechen Island.

Pointing to a beach nearby, Shi predicted that more people would visit the island 52 kilometers from the urban area of Taizhou by the end of this year.

His confidence is bolstered by an environmental restoration project currently underway on the island. 

Costing a total of 240 million yuan ($34.7 million), the project aims to restore and renovate four kilometers of coastline and 83.67 hectares of forest on the island. 

The move is expected not only to enhance the island’s ability to resist natural disasters such as typhoons, but also to boost local tourism. 

Luo Bo, president of Jiaojiang Tourism Group, said that the restoration of sandy beaches on the island will be finished by the end of this year. 

In addition, Shi said he plans to buy a yacht and offer guests free ocean cruises once the beach near his homestay completes restoration.

The project is just one example of local authorities' efforts to protect the environment.

This year, a total of 13 projects on the island costing 250 million yuan are scheduled to begin. Half of the investment will be used for environmental restoration. 

In addition, all construction projects are required to minimize their impact on the island’s natural environment, said an official from the Dachen Island Development Administrative Committee 

Formerly a desolate island devastated by wars, Dachen has emerged as a popular tourism destination in recent years due to its pristine natural landscapes, Red cultural attractions, and cross-strait ties. 

The island is comprised of 29 small islets and occupies a total area of 14.6 square kilometers. It was liberated by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1955, when it was nothing but barren land torn apart by years of war. 

In 2019, the per capita disposable income of residents on the island was 49,000 yuan, up 9.3 percent from the previous year and five times higher than 10 years ago.

In addition, the total output of its marine economy reached 745 million yuan, up 11.2 percent year-on-year. 

This year, the island will be designated a national 4A scenic spot and is expected to receive around 160 million yuan in tourism revenue.