The appeal of the 'Freshest Highway' in Qidong
2025-09-03 12:10:00

(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control.

Once dusty and uneven, the renovated roads now offer wide, smooth access to major attractions. In September 2024, Chinese National Geography magazine highlighted an 18-kilometre stretch in Qidong, named China’s “Freshest Highway”.

The city is now integrating levee infrastructure with cultural attractions and tourism, offering experiences such as sunrise viewing, beach horse racing, riverside camping and seafood tasting.

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control. (Photo/CFP)

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control. (Photo/CFP)

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control. (Photo/CFP)

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control. (Photo/CFP)

Qidong, a coastal city shaped like a peninsula, is gradually transforming sections of its 178-kilometre river–sea levee into a scenic highway network. Over the past five years, the city has intensified efforts to upgrade the embankments originally built for flood control. (Photo/CFP)

Source: jschina.com.cn Editor: Dylan