Hainan, China's southern tropical island province and burgeoning free trade port, has seen increases in both offshore duty-free sales and cross-border passenger trips during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday.
The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox. The country's official three-day Qingming Festival holiday ran from Saturday to Monday this year. It is a time when people enjoy the greenery of springtime, as well as a busy period for tourism and consumption.
The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), which started island-wide special customs operations last year, recorded a total of 279 million yuan (about 40 million U.S. dollars) in duty-free sales by approximately 47,600 visitor trips during the Qingming Festival holiday, with 224,200 items being purchased, all representing increases of 14.8 percent, 19.6 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively, comparing with last year's holiday.
Figures from the Haikou Customs showed that as of 17:00 Monday, Hainan border inspection authorities had handled 223 cross-border trips by vehicle or ship and 27,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, representing a year-on-year increase of 32.7 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Haikou Meilan International Airport handled 14,000 cross-border passenger trips, up 24.6 percent year on year, while Sanya Phoenix International Airport handled 12,000 cross-border passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 24.4 percent.
Customs authorities said the main countries of origin for inbound passengers were Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, while the main outbound destinations were Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and New Zealand.
The Hainan FTP -- the world's largest FTP by area -- saw the launch of island-wide special customs operation on December 18, 2025, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.
Hainan free trade port reports holiday-driven growth in duty-free sales
Preliminary findings indicate that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah explosive were likely responsible for the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, a UN spokesperson said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shared the initial findings of its inquiry with the governments of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said these are preliminary findings based on initial physical evidence, adding that a full UN investigation continues.
The spokesman said that all actors must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected.
"These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," said Dujarric.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon in late March. A UN investigation determined that one died when Israeli tank fire struck a UNIFIL position on March 29. The next day, two others were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in a logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan. Initial findings pointed to a roadside blast.
UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of the fallen peacekeepers in an April 2 ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, before their remains were repatriated.
The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, the remains of the three fallen Indonesian peacekeepers arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport where they were received with honors by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before being transferred to their respective hometowns for final rites.
The secretary-general earlier condemned the killings, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government of Indonesia, while expressing appreciation for the courage and service of all men and women serving with UNIFIL.
The UN Security Council, which mandated the UNIFIL mission, also condemned the attacks in a statement, offering condolences to the victims' families and to Indonesia. Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL.
Israeli tank fire, Hezbollah explosive likely killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: spokesperson
