Fuma’s -small three links- route welcomes peak passenger flow during the National Day to help speed up the construction of -same-city living circle-

On October 7, the last day of the National Day holiday, the Fuzhou Mawei Langi and Lianjiang Huangqi cross-strait passenger terminals were buzzing with travelers eager to clear customs.

I spoke with Mr. Cao, a traveler from Taiwan who had just finished his trip to Fuzhou. He shared that his family’s luggage was filled with local delicacies, including snail noodles, Fuzhou peanuts, and small yellow croaker. They returned home via the Fuzhou-Mawei “Mini Three Links” ferry service. “The scenery and the climate in Fuzhou are just amazing,” he said. “I brought my kids here to learn about and experience our traditional cultural heritage, and I always have to bring back some of these delicious treats for my friends.”

The National Day holiday saw a peak in passenger traffic on the “Mini Three Links” route between Fuzhou and Mawei. Service had been suspended from September 30 to October 4 due to Typhoon “Shan Tao,” but resumed gradually on October 5. On the day services resumed, Fuzhou border control officials processed a total of 307 travelers on these cross-strait routes.

According to statistics, from October 5 to October 7, the “Mini Three Links” saw 534 travelers, reflecting a 68% increase compared to the same period last year, along with a total of 16 ferry trips. Data from the Fuzhou border control station showed that in the first nine months of this year, there were 1,588 cross-border ferry trips with 47,389 passengers, resulting in increases of 118% and 81%, respectively. This surge in passenger traffic has solidified the route’s status as a vital link for cross-strait exchanges.

Zhang Mingjuan, the deputy director of the Fuzhou border control station, noted that they observed a rise in family travel during the holiday, particularly with elderly members and young children. In response, they created dedicated ‘Family Fun’ and ‘Hand-in-Hand’ passageways and established a “Hometown Language Service Team” to assist with bilingual customs clearance in the Minnan and Fuzhou dialects, ensuring a smoother experience for travelers.

In May, Fuzhou launched an initial set of ten measures aimed at establishing a “City Life Circle” for Fuzhou and Mawei, fostering collaboration in various industries and easing employment opportunities for residents in Matsu. The steady increase in passenger numbers on the “Mini Three Links” route has only accelerated the development of this initiative.