The "mini-three-links" route between Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province and Kinmen County of China's Taiwan region is expected to handle more than 27,000 trips during the National Day holiday.
Services along this route, which were temporarily suspended prior to the holiday due to Typhoon Krathon, resumed on Friday morning.
The Xiamen-Kinmen route is part of the "mini-three-links," which is short for the direct trade, postal, and transport services between Fujian Province and Taiwan-administered Kinmen and Matsu islands. Known as "the golden passage" to connect the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region, the route accounts for over 95 percent of customs clearance in Fujian.
Following the reopening of the line, tourists expressed their delight in being able to enjoy the convenience.
"This is convenient. The 'mini-three-links' saves a lot of time," said Tung Tehui from Taiwan.
The National Day holiday started on Tuesday and will last until the coming Monday. Local authorities are predicting a surge in passengers in the rest days of the period.
To manage the arrival increase, Xiamen's customs station are providing additional guidance and expediting entry procedures to ensure safe and swift travels.
"The average daily passenger flow of the Xiamen-Kinmen 'mini-three-links' route should reach over 4,000, rising by 25 percent compared to September. To cope with the peak traffic, we are monitoring passenger flow in real time with digital technologies applied in customs inspection, and adjust staffing accordingly. We are also opening all our inspection channels to facilitate customs clearance and ensure quick and efficient travel," said Chen Jinlai, head of Xiamen's Gaoqi customs inspection station that oversees the route.
Xiamen-Kinmen mini-three-links expected to handle 27,000 trips during holiday
More users of new energy vehicles (NEVs) are hitting the road during this year’s National Day holiday, as an expanded public charging network in China is significantly alleviating range anxiety for drivers.
Since Tuesday, the first day of the week-long holiday, expressways in east China's Jiangsu Province have seen daily traffic exceed 150,000 vehicles, with nearly 10 percent being NEVs. In Taizhou City, a service area reported all 12 charging piles occupied around 14:00 on Wednesday.
"The number of charging piles has doubled, and they are all fast chargers. What's even more reassuring is that the staff are always here to serve us, which really eases my range anxiety," said Meng Haoyang, a NEV driver.
Similar scenes were observed in Anhui Province, where electric vehicles are arriving for charging every ten minutes at a service area equipped with 16 functioning charging piles available around-the-clock.
"It is quite convenient to charge our vehicles here since there are staff providing full service, which reduces our waiting time," said Jiang Hao, another NEV driver.
A famous tourist attraction, the Shimen Village in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province has drawn an increasing number of visitors going on holiday via electric vehicles, thanks to the construction of a new EV charging station.
"It is very convenient. The car is parked outside being charged while we're enjoying our tour around the village. Things can be done simultaneously without delay," said a tourist Wan Qian.
Data from the State Grid's smart vehicle networking platform showed EV charging volume at expressway stations reached a record 15.58 million kilowatt-hours during the first two days of the holiday, up 56 percent from the same period last year.
Local authorities are actively fostering a user-friendly environment to accommodate the surge in EV traffic.
In Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province, three mobile charging stations have been added to a service area on the busy Shenyang-Haikou Expressway to resolve drivers' range anxiety and offer more flexible charging options.
"We have prepared mobile charging piles in service areas with large traffic and charging demand for the holiday, guiding drivers to charge in an orderly and fast manner," said Zhu Zhenyuan, a staff member from the State Grid Pinghu Power Supply Company.
The coverage of charging stations has been further expanded across the country.
In Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, charging facilities are available in all service areas and tourist attractions.
In Xiaogan, Hubei Province, 600 villages and rural scenic spots have been equipped with charging stations during this holiday, greatly facilitating tourist trips and family visits for EVs owners.
Expanded charging network boosts NEV use during National Day holiday
