"We've not only encouraged adults to take an active part in volunteer activities, but also children. In 2021, we organized a beach-cleaning activity and allowed both adults and kids to join in to promote the importance of protecting oceans and beaches," he said.

Since its founding, his center has organized 51 beach-cleaning activities that have seen about 1,800 people join in, with several hundred metric tons of trash cleared from coastal areas.

In 2021, Li's growing influence in environmental protection circles prompted the city's bureau of ecology and environment to invite him to make a number of short videos to raise awareness of his work.

"In the videos, I use straightforward, simple words to explain the plastics ban and how to sort trash. Some of the videos have been viewed millions of times," he said.

Li said his father was initially opposed to his protection activities.

"He didn't understand what I was doing. He urged me to focus on my restaurant rather than 'wasting time' doing this 'useless' work, for which I received no payment or financial bonus. However, when my work was reported in newspapers and on television, my mother gave her approval because she wanted me to be happy. My father, who was severely ill, died last year, while my restaurant closed due to the COVID-19 epidemic," he said.

"My volunteer work would be meaningless if I valued high cash rewards. But the work itself is truly of great importance, ensuring that trash, plastic bags and beer bottles won't be digested by ocean creatures or degrade the marine environment for many years.

"I remember that during my childhood there were no concerns about drinking river water, but now we are worried that it may be polluted. As such, it's crucial that we continue doing our environmental protection work."