What happened
From July 1 to August 30, the Fuzhou-Matsu ‘mini-three-links’ passenger routes handled more than 23,000 passenger entries and exits, a year-on-year increase of about 26% and the highest summer traffic since the routes resumed in 2023.
Two routes connect Fuzhou and Matsu: Lianjiang Huangqi–Matsu and Mawei–Matsu, with eight daily round trips. During the summer, sports and cultural exchange activities between Mawei and Matsu fueled a passenger surge, with family trips dominating and study tours and business visits also rising.
To handle peak demand, authorities added eight extra round-trip flights, optimized ticket services, set up additional inspection channels, and opened special ‘hand-in-hand’ lanes for families traveling with elderly members and children. Support also included a ‘dialect companion team’ for older passengers speaking only local dialects, plus a ‘same-root culture area’ with message boards and photo walls at the inspection site.
Why it matters
The record summer flow shows deepening people-to-people exchanges across the strait, with a broader mix of family, educational and business travel. The supportive measures highlight an effort to make cross-strait travel smoother for elderly passengers, children and other groups.
The announced plan to add a new passenger ship by 2027 points to a longer-term strategy to expand capacity and raise service quality, which could further consolidate the ‘Fuzhou-Matsu same-city life circle’ and cross-strait interactions.
Key facts
Fuzhou-Matsu ‘mini-three-links’ summer passenger volume exceeded 23,000, up about 26% year-on-year.
It set a new summer high since the routes resumed in 2023.
Two routes operate with eight daily flights; eight extra round-trip flights were added during the peak.
A new passenger ship is expected to be added in 2027.
What to watch next
Whether rising travel demand will lead to more frequent flights or additional capacity measures before the planned 2027 vessel arrives.
How the new convenience measures, such as special lanes and cultural displays, affect travel experience and the growth of cross-strait exchange activities.