The Site is a coastal wetland with mangrove forest, intertidal mudflats and seagrass beds located on the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. Situated to the north of Beilun River, a transboundary river between Viet Nam and China, it represents the largest contiguous stretch of mangrove forest in coastal China. The mangroves help resist and alleviate the impacts of hazards and protect the coast from shoreline erosion. The Site supports ten true mangrove species and five semi-mangrove species; Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Acanthus ilicifolius dominate. The seagrass community in the peripheral areas is dominated by Zostera marina. The Site also provides habitat to 155 species of large benthic fauna, 27 fishes, 213 birds and over 1,400 species of higher plants. Globally threatened species include the critically endangered Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri) and spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus); the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor); and the vulnerable Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes) and fairy pitta (Pitta nympha).