China reports healthy coral reef recovery across 38,000 square kilometers of marine habitats

China marked its seventh National Coral Day on Sunday as official monitoring data showed key coral reef ecosystems nationwide mostly in good condition over the past year.

Spanning about 38,000 square kilometers, primarily in the South China Sea and off the southern coastal regions, these underwater habitats play a critical role in supporting marine ecosystem stability and sustainable fisheries.

According to the China Marine Ecological Early-Warning and Monitoring Bulletin released by the Ministry of Natural Resources this year, the country's coral reef ecosystems were mostly in good or excellent condition in 2025, with coral communities in five key regions showing a recovery trend.

The annual observance highlights national efforts to protect these vital marine ecosystems, which serve as foundational infrastructure for marine ranches and the long-term sustainability of the country's fishing industry.

China reports healthy coral reef recovery across 38,000 square kilometers of marine habitats

The Alashankou railway port, also known as Alataw Pass, a major railway port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, handled 14.244 million tons of freight in the first eight months of this year, up 13 percent year on year, the latest data showed.

The figures reflect the continued improvement in the westward logistics corridor's capacity to ensure smooth and unimpeded trade flows.

To date, 129 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train routes pass through the Alashankou railway port, reaching 21 countries including Germany and Poland.

The variety of goods transported has expanded to more than 200 categories, including mechanical and electrical equipment, new energy products, auto parts, and daily necessities, with the two-way cargo flow structure continuing to improve.

Major Xinjiang rail port handles over 14 million tons of freight in Jan-Aug