The design of Shuangyu Island depicts a pair of dolphins circling each other. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

Shuangyu Island, also known as Double Fish Island, is a man-made island under construction in Xiamen Bay, East China's Fujian province. The island started construction in 2010 and is expected to be completed by 2024.

A conference focusing on the high-quality development and operation of Shuangyu Island was held recently.

Scholars and experts in the field of culture and tourism from the United States and China gathered to talk about the planning, positioning, product system, and development strategy of Shuangyu Island.

Shuangyu Island is a bold and unique project. It has an advantageous geographical location and ecological environment, and a convenient logistics and transportation network, which makes the island a huge potential tourism market, according to Chris Yoshii, global director of Leisure Asia AECOM (a US-based consultancy group).

Yoshii has advised many theme park projects around the world, including Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures theme parks.

The design of the island depicts a pair of dolphins circling each other, as Xiamen Bay is home to the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, or Chinese white dolphins, a state-level endangered animal species.