The area along the Yangtze River in Nantong is covered with greenery. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province launched the Yangtze Finless Porpoises Bay project on Nov 12, aiming to better protect the endangered species.

Yangtze finless porpoises are the freshwater cetaceans unique to the Yangtze River. They are also under first-class national protection and an important indicator of the Yangtze River's environment.

Known as the "smiling angel", Yangtze finless porpoises can be seen from Kaisha Island to Qidong Port in Nantong and they usually appear around the Binjiang Park in the city's downtown area.

[Photo/Guan Haoyu]

From late 2019 to October of this year, 372 Yangtze finless porpoises were spotted by staff members from local environmental protection authorities.

Nantong authorities will build the Yangtze Finless Porpoises Bay into a Yangtze finless porpoise-themed environmental protection zone of the Yangtze River in the city and construct a base for tourism and popularization of wildlife knowledge.

An official from the Nantong municipal bureau of culture, broadcasting, television, and tourism noted that the newly-launched project is expected to make Nantong's achievements in protecting the Yangtze River the city's new tourism calling card and inspire local residents and tourists to participate in the river's protection and to demonstrate their care for the natural environment.

In recent years, Nantong has ramped up efforts to protect the Yangtze River by managing water and restoring the natural environment. As a result, the water quality of the Yangtze River in the city is qualified as second grade, which can be used for centralized drinking water.