Xiamen Port Crosses 5 Million Passenger Milestone at Record Pace

Cross-border passenger traffic through Xiamen's ports reached five million trips on October 6, crossing the threshold 25 days earlier than in 2025 and setting a new speed record for the port, according to data from local border inspection authorities. Inbound and outbound foreign travelers accounted for nearly 900,000 trips, a 15 percent year-on-year increase. Travelers from Malaysia formed the largest share of foreign arrivals, followed by visitors from Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia, while more than 160,000 international travelers utilized 24-hour direct transit exemptions.

Crossing the five million mark nearly a month ahead of schedule highlights the tangible impact of China's expanding visa-free travel policies on regional coastal gateways. The strong representation of Southeast Asian visitors demonstrates Xiamen's strategic position as a primary entry and transit conduit for regional trade and tourism.

Cross-border passenger traffic through port facilities in Xiamen, Fujian province, exceeded five million trips as of October 6, surpassing the milestone 25 days earlier than in the previous year and marking the fastest pace in the port's history, according to state media reporting based on border inspection authorities. Data released by the Gaoqi Border Inspection Station under the Xiamen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection showed that total cross-border passenger throughput reached the five million threshold by 8:00 a.m. on October 6, representing a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year. A key driver of the volume growth was foreign travel. Inbound and outbound trips by foreign nationals totaled nearly 900,000, up approximately 15 percent year-on-year and setting a record for the corresponding period. Among international arrivals, travelers holding Malaysian passports made up the largest national contingent, followed by visitors from Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia. Transit facilitation measures also contributed meaningfully to cross-border movement. Border control authorities reported that more than 160,000 passengers took advantage of China's 24-hour direct transit visa exemption procedure while passing through Xiamen's checkpoints this year. The measure allows eligible international travelers on connecting flights to bypass standard immigration procedures if departing within the designated window. The accelerated growth coincides with China's broader push to expand visa-free access and ease border entry formalities for foreign visitors, particularly across regional commercial and tourism partner nations in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific. Xiamen, situated along China's southeastern coastline, serves as both a primary transport node for regional links and an essential terminal for cross-strait travel across the Taiwan Strait.