Mini Three Links passenger surges, Spring Festival expected to draw 200,000

Workers from the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration help passengers move luggage at a port along the passenger route between Huangqi town of Fuzhou and Matsu in April. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Passenger flow on Mini Three Links, which refers to small-scale trade, shipping and postal services between Fujian province, Kinmen Island and the Matsu Island group, significantly increased last year, indicating a more frequent cross-Strait exchange.

There are four passenger routes — between Xiamen city of Fujian and Kinmen, Quanzhou city of Fujian and Kinmen, Mawei district of Fuzhou city, capital of Fujian and Matsu, as well as Huangqi town of Fuzhou and Matsu. They operated 8,986 voyages last year, carrying 1.37 million passenger visits, representing year-on-year increases of 71.16 percent and 78.82 percent, respectively, data from the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration showed.