Facial-recognition ‘e-channel’ propels Xiamen–Kinmen ferry route to record traffic, highlighting cross-strait demand

The 30-minute “small three links” ferry between Xiamen’s Wutong terminal and Taiwan’s Kinmen Island has become the busiest cross-strait passenger route, Xinhua reported on 13 June. Since biometric self-service lanes were introduced last November, more than 210,000 Taiwan residents have opted for the voluntary facial-recognition clearance, cutting average immigration processing time from 60 seconds to under 20. Total cumulative ridership on the route surpassed 24.4 million since its 2001 launch, with Taiwanese passengers now making up 75 percent of the mix—up from 55 percent pre-pandemic.

Travelers planning to use the route should also verify whether they need entry permits for Taiwan or travel documents for re-entry to the mainland. VisaHQ’s China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides a quick, online way to check requirements and lodge visa or travel-permit applications, helping tourists, students and businesspeople capitalize on the ferry’s time savings.

Border officers credited a new “person-ticket-vessel” data-exchange platform that allows multiple ferries to be processed simultaneously, effectively turning the maritime checkpoint into a bus-station-style flow-through. Youth travel is a standout trend: more than 60,000 under-18 Taiwanese crossed in the first five months of 2026, a one-third increase year-on-year, fuelled by school excursions, family visits and esports tournaments in Xiamen. For businesses, the streamlined clearance offers a practical alternative to irregular direct flights, especially for supply-chain managers shuttling between factories in Fujian and contract assemblers in Taiwan. The uptick comes as negotiators discuss expanding the ferry’s customs-free luggage allowance and piloting a cross-strait digital health certificate to replace the existing manual vetting of prescription medicines. Xiamen port authorities have also previewed an “air-sea through-check” product that would let passengers tag bags through to domestic Chinese cities at Wutong terminal, mirroring Hong Kong’s SkyPier model. While political relations across the strait remain delicate, the operational success of the Xiamen–Kinmen run demonstrates demand for frictionless mobility solutions. Corporates with cross-strait teams may wish to incorporate the ferry into travel policies, noting that sailings can be suspended at 4-hour notice during typhoons; contingency plans via Fuzhou or Quanzhou ports should be in place from July onward.