Travel between mainland, Kinmen and Matsu increases

With the approach of this year's Spring Festival and cross-Strait exchanges resuming, more Taiwan residents have been traveling to and from the Chinese mainland, leading to a substantial increase in cross-Strait passenger flow compared to the same period last year.

During the period from the eve of Chinese New Year on Friday to Feb 17, the estimated number of passenger trips to be made on ferry routes between Fujian province and Taiwan is expected to exceed 30,000, with a daily average increase in passenger flow of about 7 percent compared to January, according to the border inspection authority in Fujian.

There are four cross-Strait ferry routes — one between Xiamen in Fujian and Kinmen, another between Quanzhou and Kinmen, and two between Fuzhou and Matsu — making it greatly convenient for people traveling between the two sides.