Fujian sees record-high single-day inbound tourists via Xiamen-Kinmen "mini three links"

A delegation of more than 2,000 people from Kinmen of the Taiwan region arrived in Fujian Province on Saturday via the Xiamen–Kinmen "Mini Three Links" ferry route, raising the single-day passenger traffic on the route to over 7,000 that included more than 4,000 inbound trips, a record high since the service resumed in 2023.

In Saturday morning, members of the delegation began to arrive in batches at Wutong Ferry Terminal of Xiamen, an easter coastal city, marking the largest such group from Kinmen since the ferry route reopened after a temporary suspension.

The delegation will take part in a four-day program of cultural exchanges in Fujian's Xiamen and Zhangzhou cities.

"We came by ferry. It only takes about half an hour. It is very convenient," said Zhuge, a visitor from Taiwan.

"I have been here several times with friends. It is both fun and convenient. We have visited tourist attractions like the Gulangyu Island, the Eighth Market and Zhongshan Road, and enjoyed Xiamen's famous snacks," said another visitor surnamed Chen.

The route, with a travel time of less than 30 minutes, is widely regarded as a golden channel for cross-Strait travel. As the weekend trips surged alongside the delegation visit, Xiamen authorities added three extra ferry services from Kinmen to Xiamen, bringing the total to 30 round trips for the day.

"With many tour groups, a high proportion of elderly passengers, and surging peak flows, we have implemented a 'simultaneous inspection for multiple vessels and continuous clearance' model based on our self-developed intelligent clearance system for the Xiamen–Kinmen 'Mini Three Links' route, so that passengers can be checked upon arrival, and pass through by facial recognition. We have also opened dedicated channels for oversized luggage and other convenience services throughout the day, and deployed officers fluent in the Minnan dialect to provide guidance and services, as the dialect is used on both sides of the Strait," said Chen Jinlai, deputy head of Xiamen's Gaoqi Border Inspection Station.

Passenger traffic on the route has continued to grow this year. As of Saturday, Gaoqi Border Inspection Station had handled over 400,000 passenger trips via the Xiamen-Kinmen "Mini Three Links" route, up by more than 20 percent year on year.

Fujian sees record-high single-day inbound tourists via Xiamen-Kinmen "mini three links"

Enterprises from the United States are welcome to seize the development opportunities in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the country, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said in Beijing on Sunday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).

Noting that China-U.S. ties are the world's most important bilateral relations, He said it is hoped that the USCBC will continue to play its role as a bridge to promote friendly exchanges and the steady and healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States.

It is also hoped that U.S. enterprises can fully seize the development opportunities in China, make good use of the potential of the Chinese market, and inject more stability and positive energy into China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He added.

Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the USCBC, Sean Stein, president of the USCBC, and other members from the delegation noted that the U.S. business sector is optimistic about China's economic development prospects. They expressed the willingness to further explore the Chinese market, play an active role, and continuously deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

U.S. enterprises are welcome to seize development opportunities in China: vice premier