As everything on Dolphin Island was unknown, Xihong Zoo's official livestream became the best channel for tourists who were still on the fence.
Before the aerial shots appeared, netizens had various speculations, but when the beautiful scenery on Dolphin Island was truly presented through the lens, the netizens in the livestream room were instantly stunned.
The azure sea, the white sandy beaches, the colorful环岛公路 (ring road), the emerald green primeval forests, and the seaside guesthouses with exotic flair.
Everything was so harmonious, so breathtaking.
Even though the aerial shots were just a fleeting glimpse, netizens' eyes were still deeply captivated.
It wasn't until the aerial drone completed a full circle and returned to the port venue, focusing its lens on Yang Lin's face, that the netizens finally reacted.
"Is this Dolphin Island? Are you sure it's real footage and not CG from a game?"
"Are there still such attractions in China? Usually, they trick tourists with doctored photos, but this place is the real deal."
"If the real scenery is like this, then this place perfectly fulfills all my fantasies about the sea."
"I've been to many seaside attractions over the years, places like Tianyahaijiao, Gulangyu, including Weizhou Island and Dongji Island, I've been to them all, but they were mostly fake photos. When I got there, it was nothing like the pictures."
"I officially diss Tianyahaijiao. Although I'm local, I strongly advise you outsiders not to come."
"As expected, a place that the zoo director Yang values must have something special about it. Just from that quick circle just now, I think charging 688 is not excessive at all."
"We've been tricked! We've been tricked! Which scoundrel was it that told everyone not to buy tickets on the official website?"
"Conspiracy, it's all a conspiracy."
"Fire the photographer! Who wants to see Director Yang? Hurry up and let the drone fly around the island again. If we can't go in person, we can at least enjoy it online!"
"Exactly, turn the camera over there, you idiot!"
"Tickets for May Day go on sale tonight. I'm not buying them online. I'm going to Xihong Zoo directly with my backpack to minimize network latency."
"I saw on the Xihong Zoo official website that they are still recruiting island keepers for Dolphin Island. I'm signing up first. If I can't get a ticket, I'll just live there."
...
As the netizens in the livestream room collectively exploded, the two hosts responsible for the live broadcast quickly whispered to the cameraman:
"Don't point the camera at the director. Netizens want to see Dolphin Island. Hurry up and let the drone fly out."
Upon hearing the hosts' words, the cameraman first glanced cautiously at Director Yang Lin in the VIP section. After confirming that Yang Lin was not looking at the camera, he controlled the drone to fly away.
As the drone once again flew over Dolphin Island, the stunning island scenery of Dolphin Island was once again presented.
At the same time, it was already 9:30 AM.
The port of Dolphin Island finally welcomed its first batch of tourists.
Just like when Yang Lin first docked, these tourists from all over China were mesmerized by the beauty of Dolphin Island from the moment they first saw it.
If it weren't for the guidance of the island staff, they probably wouldn't have been able to leave the port for a while.
Even after they were led to the Dolphin Plaza, their exclamations of admiration for Dolphin Island did not cease.
As the tourists arrived, a leader from the Culture and Tourism Bureau, whose name Yang Lin couldn't recall, stepped onto the stage to deliver an address.
However, the tourists clearly didn't pay much attention to him.
While the leader was speaking, the tourists took out their phones and cameras and started snapping pictures of the island's scenery.
It wasn't until the leader finished his last sentence that thunderous applause erupted.
"Next, we invite Director Yang of Xihong Zoo to the stage to speak."
This sentence had an almost magical effect, instantly drawing the attention of tourists whose focus had drifted elsewhere.
"Director Yang, it's Director Yang!"
"Where? Where?"
"That handsome young man dressed so sharply over there. Oops, I used the wrong word, it's the handsome young man dressed so neatly."
"Quick, pretend to take pictures, give Director Yang some face."
"Aren't you going to open the lens cap?"
"Is it necessary? Save the memory to take pictures of the island later. It's not worth wasting on this."
"That makes sense."
...
"As expected, everyone who came is my fan."
Looking at the enthusiastic tourists in the audience, Yang Lin, who had just stepped onto the stage, showed a look of relief.
The next second, he picked up the microphone.
"Hello everyone, dear tourists. Today is a joyous occasion for the official opening of the Dolphin Island Marine Ecological Reserve."
"As our country's first marine biological reserve aimed at protection, research, and popular science, Dolphin Island currently has over 300 species of first-class protected fish, over 1,000 species of second-class protected fish, and over 80 species of first-class protected marine mammals, including humpback whales, blue whales, and beluga whales..."
...
At first, the tourists listened with great interest, but as they listened, everyone started to feel a bit confused.
"Wait, did I hear that right? Are there this many marine creatures in the waters around Dolphin Island?"
"Impossible, aren't there just a group of striped regular dolphins passing by? And three humpback whales, I didn't see them when we arrived."
"What do you know? This is the art of language. Anything passing by the waters around Dolphin Island can be counted, right?"
"That's not right either. I heard beluga whales, bowhead whales, and narwhals. Are these whales that can be seen in the Pacific Ocean?"
"It doesn't matter. Even if they are there, they are very difficult to see. You can't expect to eat your wife in wife cakes. It's normal not to see dolphins on Dolphin Island. Anyway, the scenery here is already worth the ticket price."
"For the sake of Director Yang's many contributions to China, we'll allow him to brag a little."
"I hope to see dolphins. I don't expect to see other marine animals."
"Is Director Yang finished speaking? If he is, I'm going to go play."
...
In fact, not only the tourists, but even the leaders from the Culture and Tourism Bureau and the Maritime Bureau were a bit confused.
"Director Yang is bragging a bit too much, isn't he? If there were really that many, wouldn't the waters around Dolphin Island be as crowded as dumplings?"
"Young people, it's understandable."
"In any case, the development of Dolphin Island this time is perfect and has epoch-making significance for the development of China's marine tourism industry."
...
Just as everyone thought Yang Lin was exaggerating, Yang Lin spoke again.
"To welcome everyone's arrival, Dolphin Island has prepared a small opening performance. Please follow me to the viewing platform."
Upon hearing this, both tourists and leaders present showed expressions of suspicion.
It was clear that before coming to Dolphin Island, they had not heard of any opening performance.
However, out of trust in Yang Lin, everyone followed the ring road on the island and sequentially arrived at dozens of seaside viewing platforms located on the east side of the ring road.