People-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Strait jumped by 23.6 percent in 2025 year on year, despite continued obstruction by the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) authorities in Taiwan region, said Peng Qing'en, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
"In 2025, despite the continued restrictive measures imposed by the DPP authorities, cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges increased significantly by 1.0445 million more visits than 2024, totaling 5.4495 million, a year-on-year increase of 23.6 percent. Among them, 4.8918 million were Taiwan residents visiting the mainland, an increase of 868,800 more visits, or 21.6 percent, year on year; while 557,700 were mainland residents visiting Taiwan, an increase of 175,700 visits, or 47.4 percent, year on year. Notably, among the Taiwan compatriots visiting the mainland, 306,900 were first-time visitors, a year-on-year increase of 34.6 percent, of whome1.684 million were youth, accounting for 34.4 percent," said Peng.
"Although the DPP authorities were bent on obstructing and restricting cross-Strait exchanges, the people-to-people exchanges across the Strait still reached a considerable scale in 2025, with cooperation in various fields remaining active. We sincerely welcome more and more compatriots from Taiwan to come to the mainland for a visit, appreciating the magnificent landscapes of our motherland, and feeling for the vibrant economic and social development of the mainland," said Peng.
Cross-strait personnel exchanges up 23.5 pct in 2025
Cross-strait personnel exchanges up 23.5 pct in 2025
Cross-strait personnel exchanges up 23.5 pct in 2025
Cities across China are experiencing a significant tourism boom as the three-day Qingming Festival holiday coincides with the first-ever student spring breaks in multiple cities, creating an extended travel period for many families.
Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing. The Qingming Festival holiday will last from April 4 to 6.
In addition, primary and secondary school students in several regions are going to enjoy their first-ever spring break to head beyond the classroom for travel and engaging in a wide range of activities. In some areas, the spring break takes place just before the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, while in others it extends into the five-day May Day holiday, allowing students to combine leave into six- to eight-day mini-breaks.
With spring in full bloom, many families are venturing into nature to enjoy the spring scenery and experience the spring atmosphere in mountains and fields.
At Maoshan Forest World, a scenic spot in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu, families from surrounding cities such as Nanjing, Nantong, and Zhenjiang are coming in groups. They interacted with adorable animals and experienced digging for bamboo shoots. Under the guidance of the staff, children identified and dug bamboo shoots, experiencing the joyful moments of labor.
"I want my child to get closer to nature, feel the breath of spring, and experience the joy of labor," said Deng Jie, a tourist.
During the holiday, traveling to famous destinations featured in textbooks has become a popular choice for many families.
In east China's Zhejiang Province, several scenic spots have introduced free admission for primary and secondary school students. At the Yanguan Ancient Town in Haining, many students can experience the spectacular sight of magnificent tidal waves of Qiantang River described in textbook.
"We just rode a bamboo raft and are going to watch the Qiantang River tidal bore tomorrow," said Zhao Ziyu, a tourist.
Integrating educational content with holiday vibes, study tours remain popular during the holiday.
At the Wujiangzhai Scenic Spot in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, after watching an ethnic performance, many young visitors went to a lantern shop to experience making intangible cultural heritage lanterns. From constructing bamboo frames to pasting paper and coloring, a teacher guided them step by step, and the visitors incorporated the scenic area's landscapes and their own life expectations into their creations.
In Liangdancheng (city of nuclear bombs), the site where China's first atomic and hydrogen bombs were designed, in Zitong County of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a large number of students visited the local aerospace science and technology museum. In the interactive experience area, students operated simulated spaceflight equipment, acting as little astronauts exploring a virtual universe. By wearing Mixed Reality (MR) glasses, they can observe the mysteries of planets up close.
Spring break coincides with Qingming holiday, fueling tourism boom across China
