Published by ChinaMNC · Ju
Reviving Old Assets: A Coastal Tourism Model with Lessons for Foreign Founders
A government report details how Shanhaitian Tourism Resort transformed retired fishing boats, an underused island, and a derelict fish hatchery into new tourism assets. For foreign founders, the project illustrates a practical approach to repurposing existing resources, building local partnerships, and operating in China's experience economy.
Reviving Old Assets: A Coastal Tourism Model with Lessons for Foreign Founders
For foreign founders looking at China's tourism and experience economy, a recent government report from Rizhao's Shanhaitian Tourism Resort offers a concrete case of how idle assets can be turned into operating businesses. The report describes three projects: a tea garden dotted with retired wooden fishing boats, an offshore island with new nighttime offerings, and a former fish hatchery reborn as a coastal resort complex. Each project relied on renovation and reuse rather than demolition and new construction.
While the article does not address company registration directly, the underlying approach—working with local resources, understanding policy direction, and forming partnerships—is relevant for foreign founders planning operations in China's tourism or leisure sectors.
Project One: Retired Fishing Boats as Tea Garden Accommodation
At the Yunguo Shanqiu tea tourism park, 35 retired wooden fishing boats have been placed among tea fields. Rather than being scrapped, the boats now serve as a cluster of boat-dock guest rooms. The report attributes the idea to Yan Zaoning, described as a local third-generation fisherman. As Rizhao's fishing fleet shifted toward steel vessels, many old wooden boats reached retirement age. Yan's team recovered more than 50 boats slated for dismantling and selected 35 with sound hulls for conversion.
- 29 boats became independent guest rooms, each with a different layout.
- One large boat was converted into a tea and coffee space called "Shang'an" (Ashore).
- Five boats became a marine art exhibition hall, a workshop for model-boat making and educational activities, and landscape installations.
The guest rooms incorporate maritime objects: rusted anchors as curtain hooks, old sails as projection screens, and oars, masts, ladders, and shells as decor. The park also established a museum of marine fishing memories and runs regular educational programs on boat-model making and marine science.
The project employs more than 300 nearby villagers, according to the report. Former fishermen work as cultural interpreters, explaining boat-building techniques and seafaring stories. For foreign founders, this illustrates how local hiring and cultural storytelling can be integrated into a tourism operation.
Project Two: Taohua Island's Shift to All-Day Tourism
Taohua Island, about one kilometer offshore, is described as Rizhao's largest nearshore island reef. Previously, it offered only daytime sightseeing, and visitors left quickly. The resort chose not to undertake large-scale demolition but instead renovated existing facilities and made use of vacant land and natural reef beaches.
New additions included camping areas, tidal-flat exploration, pet interaction zones, a sightseeing train, and photo spots. Over the May Day holiday, a coffee shop called Taohua Island Shangshui Coffee opened in a converted idle space—reportedly Rizhao's first island coffee shop. By late June, night boat services began, along with music gatherings and stargazing camping, extending the island's operating hours into the evening.
The report quotes a visitor from Xuzhou, Yu Tongtong, who described drinking coffee by the sea and stargazing as an experience she had not found elsewhere. While such testimonials are anecdotal, they suggest that differentiated offerings can attract attention. For foreign founders, the project demonstrates how incremental upgrades—rather than large capital projects—can broaden an attraction's appeal and extend its revenue hours.
Project Three: From Fish Hatchery to Coastal Resort Complex
The Shanhai Lanwan cultural tourism complex occupies a site that was once a long-abandoned fish hatchery. The report quotes Sun Jie, the complex's manager, who said that demolishing and rebuilding would have been easy but would have erased the old workshops and ponds. Instead, the project invested over 100 million yuan in a careful renovation across the 50,000-square-meter site.
The approach was to retain what could be retained and use what could be used. Old factory buildings kept their frames and became sea-view guest rooms and a seaside café. Abandoned hatchery ponds were divided by depth and converted into tidal-flat exploration areas and shallow play zones for families. Vacant land became a cultural market, a pet park, and a flower-field camping area. Concrete ponds that once held fish and shrimp were filled with clear seawater and turned into infinity-style landscape pools.
The report quotes a visitor from Xi'an, Zhang Jiayi, who said she came after seeing short videos of the large sea-view windows and that her family found activities for everyone. Sun Jie noted that the project did not spend on promotion and relied on visitors sharing content online. He summarized the project's value in three areas: preserving local fishing-ground memories, responding to coastal renewal policies by turning a neglected site into a productive asset, and creating diverse businesses that generate local employment and spending.
What Foreign Founders Can Take Away
The Shanhaitian case suggests several practical points for foreign founders considering tourism or leisure projects in China:
- Reuse can be a viable strategy. Renovating existing structures may reduce construction time and preserve distinctive local character that attracts visitors.
- Local partnerships matter. The projects relied on local individuals and teams with knowledge of the area and its history.
- Policy alignment can support projects. The report frames the work as consistent with coastal stock-renewal policies, which may help with approvals and local government cooperation.
- Diversified revenue streams help. Accommodation, food and beverage, educational activities, and events can complement one another and extend operating hours.
Foreign founders should note that the report does not provide details on foreign investment rules, licensing, or land-use procedures. Those areas require separate professional advice. However, the general lesson—that working with existing assets and local stakeholders can be a practical path—is relevant when evaluating projects in China's tourism sector.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Call to action: Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.