The two major Cross-straits direct sea routes between the
Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened for traffic on the first day of
the Lunar New Year for the first time in seven years, with 1,233
passengers making the trip on Thursday.
The opening means that the Xiamen-Jinmen and Mawei-Matsu routes
will be open throughout the year, according to the frontier
inspection station of Xiamen city in the eastern Fujian
Province.
The two lines suspended shipping services on the first day of
the Lunar New Year in previous years for maintenance. The
authorities decided to open the services in December to help Taiwan
business people working or living on the Chinese mainland.
The Xiamen-Jinmen route transported 1,024 inbound and 142
outbound passengers on Thursday. The Mawei-Matsu sea route
transported 66 inbound passengers and one outbound traveler,
according to the frontier station.
"My wife and son left for Taipei before the Lunar New Year. I
had some business to deal with, so I postponed my trip to today.
The opening really offers me much convenience," said a Taiwan
businessman surnamed Zhuang.
The Xiamen-Jinmen route has transported more than 2.44 million
people since it started operation on January 2, 2001. The
Mawei-Matsu route, which also opened in 2001, has been used by
170,000 passengers.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2008)