Island county enjoys improved transportation

Thirty-one years ago, when then 19-year-old Wang Jie went to college in Dalian, Liaoning province, it was the first time he had left the island where he was born and raised.

Back then, many islanders never emigrated from Changhai, an island county in the north Yellow Sea that sits between China's Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula.

Over the past few decades, the county, comprising 195 islands (18 inhabited) with a population of about 70,000, has developed efficient transportation facilities, and living standards have greatly improved.

Wang recalled a business trip 20 years ago, when he and several other colleagues traveled from Dachangshan Island, where the county government is located, to Haiyang Island, which is the farthest from the mainland.

They encountered strong winds and were stranded in Haiyang for eight days because no ship could withstand such a storm.

At that time, it took six hours to travel between the two islands. If Haiyang residents wanted to go to downtown Dalian about 130 kilometers away, they had to set off before dawn and might only arrive after sunset.

"Now, it takes only four hours by high-speed passenger ship," Wang said. "It is convenient for people to go back and forth within one day."

Fang Jianwei, Party chief of Changhai, said the convenient transportation has facilitated the delivery of high-quality seafood to customers around the country and has been bringing more tourists to the well-known resort, which boasts a 359-kilometer coastline.

Fang revealed that the expansion of Changhai Airport has been put on the agenda and will significantly boost transportation between the islands and the mainland.

According to Wang, fresh seafood including sea cucumber, abalone, sea urchin, scallop and oyster can now be delivered to most domestic cities within one or two days.

As an amateur photographer, he has recorded the evolution of Changhai's transportation infrastructure with his camera－from dirt roads to round-the-island roads, from small, jolty barges to roll-on-roll-off ships and comfortable, high-speed passenger ships, and from only sea access to convenient air routes.

In July 2014, the 3.45-km Changshan Bridge, which connects the county's two biggest islands, was put into use, directly benefiting 70 percent of the county's population.

In recent years, many international races such as marathons, triathlons and cycling competitions have been held in Changhai, attracting more and more participants.

"The races have become popular not only because of the beautiful island scenery, but also because of the convenient transportation," Wang said. "The participants can spend the weekend on the islands and go back to work on Monday morning."

Wang Xiao, who works with courier firm SF Express, said with the convenient transportation, they can handle as much as 1,000 pieces of express mail every day.

"Express delivery has become an essential service for island residents, he said. "High-quality seafood is easily delivered around the country, and local residents are getting used to buying daily necessities, including food and farm tools, on the internet."

Deng Hanzhu contributed to this story.