【大美广东】Charming Zhanjiang: the City of Mangroves

万树成千岛！“红树林之城”湛江魅力万千

#TheGreatBeautyofGuangdong Covering an area of approximately 104.2 hectares,  mangrove forests have formed small emerald-green islands scattered across the sea. Jinniu Island in Zhanjiang is famous for its thousand islands created by ten thousand trees. The mangrove forests, also known as the “forests of the sea”, have become an abundant source of fish and shrimp and a natural paradise for migratory birds. The Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve in Guangdong is the largest and most concentrated protected area of mangrove forests in China, earning Zhanjiang a reputation as the “City of Mangroves”.

▲湛江市麻章区湖光镇世乔村金牛岛的红树林。羊城晚报全媒体记者 梁喻 摄

▲湛江市麻章区湖光镇世乔村金牛岛红树林片区风景优美，游客在栈桥上参观欣赏。羊城晚报全媒体记者 梁喻 摄

从高空俯瞰，面积约104.2公顷的红树林团簇在一起，宛如一座座翠绿小岛，错落有致地散布在海面上……因此，湛江金牛岛享有“万树成千岛”的美誉。由红树林形成的“海上森林”，更被称为鱼虾粮仓，候鸟天堂。据悉，广东湛江红树林国家级自然保护区是我国红树林面积最大、分布最集中的自然保护区，湛江也因此有“红树林之城”美誉。