Weihai's three second acts

Oysters grow slowly on the hanging ropes; sea cucumbers and fish are raised in simulated wild environments. The result is premium seafood from an ecosystem that has drawn attention abroad: In 2022, visiting researchers from Australia, the United Kingdom and France praised its conservation model, according to local authorities.

At the heart of the experience is the pufferfish, the bay's most charismatic resident.

As one of China's largest seawater pufferfish breeding bases, the farm raises some 50,000 pufferfish annually, with each 10-meter-by-10-meter cage holding 2,000 to 3,000 fish. Touch one, and it puffs up into a spiky ball, instantly the star attraction.

"The pufferfish is our farm mascot," says Yu Yongchao, general manager of the Sanggou Bay marine ranch. "People come to see them, hold them and then taste them."

On the floating platform, visitors can pick shellfish, touch sea cucumbers and try their hand at fishing. There are starfish, sea urchins and octopuses to observe up close. A second-floor viewing deck and a floating restaurant complete the experience.

For Zhao, a mother visiting from Beijing with her child, the appeal is simple. "You can't just dig sand at the beach," she says. "Kids need to see something real. You can't find this kind of experience around Beijing."