New sea route boosts cross-Straits tourism

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-12-25

First 89 tourists line up to board a cross-Straits ferry from Fujian's Huangqi town to Taiwan's Matsu county on Dec 23. [Photo by Hu Meidong/chinadaily.com.cn]

A cross-Straits sea route between Huangqi town in Fujian province and Taiwan's Matsu was launched on Dec 23, and is expected to promote cross-Straits tourism.

The new route shortens travel time between the two areas to 20 minutes, which means tourists can visit both places within one day. The one-way ticket costs 135 yuan ($21.24). Fujian residents used to have to take ferries from Mawei district to Matsu Island, which takes about two hours with a 1,000-yuan ticket.

First 89 tourists take a cross-Straits ferry from Fujian's Huangqi town to Taiwan's Matsu county on Dec 23. [Photo by Hu Meidong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Huangqi town, in Lianjiang county is the closest place on the Chinese mainland to Matsu Island, at a distance of 8,000 meters.

Chen Yihui, vice director of the Fujian tourism bureau said, "The new route will not only offer mainland tourists a new choice of Taiwan tours, but also attract more Taiwan visitors to Fujian."