A total of 12,250 passengers were transported on 290 ships on the route between the Mawei district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, and Matsu, Taiwan, since January — a record for the period. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A passenger ship route between the Mawei district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, and Matsu, Taiwan, has seen steady growth since its reopening in January.

According to the Fuzhou maritime bureau, 12,250 passengers have been transported on 290 ships on the route since January, a 35.7 percent increase in passenger volume over the same period in 2019. It's also a record for the period.

The Mawei-Matsu route was opened in January 2001, marking an important milestone in cross-Strait exchanges.

On July 3, the route celebrated the arrival of its 666,666th passenger when the ship Anqi VI from Matsu docked in Fuzhou.

The Fuzhou Maritime Bureau has been actively strengthening inspections and ensuring the safety and quality of the route. Collaboration with meteorological departments has enabled timely notifications of adverse weather conditions, thereby improving management and service quality.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]