China has lifted restrictions on group and independent travel to Lienchiang County for Chinese-controlled Fujian Province residents, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai resumed processing exit visa applications for those traveling to Matsu on Thursday, the source said.
Fujian residents and holders of Fujian residence permits can apply for a single-entry personal or group travel visa to Lienchiang, the source said, adding that the visa is valid for six months and is annotated for direct travel to Lienchiang only.
Photo courtesy of the Maritime and Port Bureau
Tour guides from travel agencies that are authorized to organize tours to Taiwan can apply for a multi-entry group travel visa to Lienchiang, with a validity of up to one year, the source said.
Fujian residents who obtain the correct documentation can enter and exit the Chinese border through Huangqi or Mawei ports in Fuzhou, the source said, adding that they would be able to take cross-strait ferry services under the “small three links.”
Regarding the length of their stay, the source said under Taiwan’s entry policies, Chinese visitors can stay for up to 15 days.
Eight Fujian tourists were to arrive in Matsu yesterday and stay for about five days, Lienchiang County Association of Travel Agents chairman Yang Yao-chih (楊曜誌) said.
The eight tourists were approved by the Chinese authorities to travel to Lienchiang under individual travel visas and no Chinese tour guide would accompany them, but they are to join a guided group during their visit, Yang said.
Chinese tourism to Taiwan had been largely frozen for more than three years. China halted independent travel to Taiwan on Aug. 1, 2019, citing the poor state of cross-strait relations. It then suspended group travel to other countries, including Taiwan, in early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
In a written reply, the Mainland Affairs Council said that it was pleased to see the Chinese authorities announce the resumption of applications for Fujian residents to travel to Matsu for group and individual travelers.
“The government’s stance of welcoming Chinese tourists to visit Matsu, Kinmen or Taiwan remains unchanged,” the council added.
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