A total of nine Chinese cities were accredited as international wetland cities on Thursday during the opening of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) held in Zimbabwe's resort city of Victoria Falls, bringing the total number of such cities in China to 22, the highest in the world. The nine newly accredited cities are Chongming in Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, Lhasa in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, and Yueyang in Hunan Province. The nine newly accredited cities each have unique characteristics, showcasing China's outstanding achievements in wetland protection. Of the nine Chinese cities, Chongming, developed from wetlands, is home to the world's largest alluvial island at a river mouth, with nearly 70 percent of its area covered by wetlands. Dali is a model for the conservation, restoration, and proper use of plateau lake wetlands, featuring a unique landscape where the alpine lake and urban areas coexist. Fuzhou, renowned for its innovative wetland policies, has crafted a poetic haven with thriving mangrove forests, creating idyllic birdwatching sanctuaries. Hangzhou is home to the Xixi National Wetland Park, China's first national wetland park, and is a prime example of urban wetland conservation and utilization. Renowned as a "kingdom of rare birds" and a "paradise for migratory birds," Jiujiang is a key resting stop on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a bird migration route, which, stretching across approximately 25 countries, connects Siberia and the Arctic with Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Lhasa has the world's highest-altitude and largest urban natural wetland -- the Lhalu Wetland National Nature Reserve -- with an average altitude of 3,645 meters, which covers an area of 12.2 square kilometers. Suzhou, boasting vast reed marshes, lotus ponds, ecological islands, and aquatic forests, exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of urban life and lakeside wetland landscapes. Wenzhou, another city in Zhejiang, has established a comprehensive wetland conservation network, by restoring coastal, island, and urban wetland ecosystems. Yueyang is home to Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake. The Dongting Lake wetland serves as a key habitat for the Yangtze finless porpoise, known as the "giant panda of the water." The title of international wetland city represents the highest achievement of a city in wetland ecological protection. Following the certification of these nine new Chinese international wetland cities, there are now 74 such cities worldwide, of which 22 are in China. With increased policy support and financial investment, China has achieved remarkable results in wetland protection. So far, the total wetland area in the country stands at 56.35 million hectares. Shotlist: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - July 24, 2025: 1. Various of 15th Meeting of Conference of Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in progress; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 2. Aerial shots of wetland cities. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]