Full responsibility

After the first sewage treatment plant went into operation in December, the problems caused by sewage dumping seemed to be solved. The plant has the capacity to process 4,000 metric tons of sewage daily, "enough to meet the current demands of local residents and tourists", Li said.

After sewage is collected and treated, water quality generally meets Level I standard, according to Zhou Haoliang, a researcher at the Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, who conducted research on the growth of coral reefs.

But many believe coral reef marine habitats deserve further protection.

The solution is what local landscape architects call a "sponge island", which in part borrows the idea of "Sponge City", a project launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Water Resources.

The project aims to treat water in a natural way and reduce runoff. Wetland soil can absorb at least 60 percent of rainwater, keep it on site and return it to the underground water table, according to a government guide released in November.

While the artificial wetland on the island works well in holding rainwater for future use, the idea of building a "Sponge Island" has to do with more protective concerns, according to Wang Chongliang, deputy director of the administration committee.

Niujiaokeng Wetland, covering 3.3 square kilometers, cleans up treated water piped to the wetland before it is finally discharged into the ocean.

What once was an unsightly sewage lagoon where residents went to dump trash is now a park visited by cranes and many other wild birds.

"We are achieving two things at one stroke," Wang said. "Water discharged into the ocean can be purified, while making sure that wetlands will not experience a state of drought."

Joint efforts

Even though much progress has been made in protecting the environment, Li has other concerns.

For example, the narrow street leading to the Catholic church on the island - one of its must-see tourist sites - is clogged with stalls selling handmade souvenirs, leaving little space for tourists to move. Small coral handicrafts are hidden behind other souvenirs, and merchants only take them out upon request.

Han Li, a merchant who has lived on the island for more than 40 years, said selling souvenirs and operating inns for four months annually provides enough income to support her family. With no penalties at present, she said that she cannot think of a reason to give up. Her annual income has quadrupled in the five years since she took up the business.

However, Li, the administrative committee director, said: "Even though some villages on the island have held training classes on protecting the environment and operating a business, the most urgent need is to set the rules down with specific standards for operating self-started businesses.

"We really hope we can work together with the 160,000 residents on the island to make it a better place to visit."