Ferry links mark 25-year travel milestone

Over 26 million passengers have traveled via the "Mini Three Links" ferry services over the past 25 years, according to Fujian immigration inspection data on Friday. The routes connect Fujian province of the Chinese mainland with the islands of Jinmen and Matsu, serving as a primary corridor for cross-Strait exchanges.

On Jan 2, 2001, the inaugural voyage began with two ferries from Jinmen carrying 180 residents to Xiamen, Fujian. Simultaneously, a delegation of 507 people from Matsu arrived at Mawei Port in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian, establishing the first direct ferry links between the two sides after decades of separation.