China is transforming historic African slave port into waterfront tourism magnet

On the shore, captives were passed through the “Gate of No Return”, with a monumental memorial arch now standing at the exact point where they boarded the ships.

The project aims to boost tourism by linking the modern seaside complex directly to the historic slave route and memorial sites in Ouidah.

Benin’s National Agency for Heritage Promotion and Tourism Development manages the project. Construction started under the government of former president Patrice Talon. President Wadagni, who took the oath of office on May 24, was the finance minister at the time.