Shenzhen Bay port sees passenger surge, with over 10 mln trips recorded this year

Passenger traffic at China's Shenzhen Bay border crossing in Guangdong Province has surged past ten million trips this year, reflecting a dramatic rise in cross-border movement.

According to the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, the Shenzhen Bay port had handled over ten million inbound and outbound passenger trips as of March 20, marking a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The port, located near Hong Kong International Airport, is a key entry point for travelers arriving in Shenzhen. Since the beginning of this year, Shenzhen Bay border inspection station has processed around 200,000 trips by foreign nationals, with over 27,000 entering visa-free, a year-on-year increase of approximately 170 percent.

Since December 17, 2024, China's National Immigration Administration has extended the visa-free transit period for foreigners to 240 hours or ten days.

According to data from the National Immigration Administration, between December 17, 2024 and March 17, 2025, China's ports saw 8.805 million foreign arrivals, marking a 34.9 percent year-on-year increase.

"It (visa-free policy) is a very good thing. It's easy to immigrate," said Rose Max, a German traveler.

The surge in passenger volume also follows the implementation of new policies designed to facilitate easier travel, including "no-document" clearance, the resumption of "one trip per week" permits between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and the expansion of "multiple-entry" permits.

The daily peak processing capacity at Shenzhen Bay reached 180,000 passenger trips.

"To ensure efficient and smooth customs clearance, we have developed and applied new inspection equipment such as no-document channels, mobile inspection terminals, and mobile inspection desks. This is to effectively use scientific and technological innovation to accelerate openness and further promote the level of interconnection between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao," said Huang Zhao, deputy captain of the fourth duty team at Shenzhen Bay border inspection station.

Shenzhen Bay port sees passenger surge, with over 10 mln trips recorded this year

The cumulative death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 2,483, with 7,707 others injured since March 2, according to Lebanon's Disaster Risk Management Unit on Thursday.

Three people were killed and two others, including a child, were injured in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

The deaths resulted from an Israeli airstrike on the Shoukine road in Nabatieh district, and the injuries from Israeli artillery shelling on the town of Yater in Bint Jbeil district, it said.

Israeli strikes and military activities have intensified across the south, with Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reporting a large explosion by Israeli forces in the town of Chamaa, along with additional detonations in other areas.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said Thursday it targeted Israeli troop positions in the village of Taybeh with an attack drone and additional weapons, citing Israeli violations of the ongoing 10-day ceasefire. The group said it also downed an Israeli reconnaissance drone over Majdal Zoun.

The developments came despite the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that came into effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, shortly after the two countries held their second ambassador-level talks in Washington Thursday afternoon.

Israeli attacks kill 2,483, injure 7,707 in Lebanon since March