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Immigration Agencies Enhance Customs Clearance During Dragon Boat Festival

During this year's Dragon Boat Festival, the estimated average daily footfall at ports across the country is projected to reach 2.15 million, highlighting a notable increase of 12.2% compared to the previous year. The highest concentration of incoming and outgoing passenger traffic is predicted to occur on June 1. Major international airports, including Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Chengdu Tianfu, and Shenzhen Bao'an, are expected to experience substantial increases in passenger numbers, averaging 100,000, 48,000, 46,000, 17,000, and 16,000 individuals respectively.

The Dragon Boat Festival is not only a time for cultural celebration but also a period of heightened travel activity, particularly in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. The festivities will host numerous dragon boat races and large-scale events, drawing many mainland residents eager to travel abroad and encouraging Hong Kong and Macau residents to visit family members. This surge in activity will lead to a significant rise in customs traffic at land ports that are adjacent to these regions.

Specifically, at key land ports such as Shenzhen Luohu, Futian, Shenzhen Bay, Liantang, and West Kowloon Station, the average daily passenger entries and exits are anticipated to reach substantial figures of 230,000, 210,000, 150,000, 110,000, and 100,000 respectively. On the other side of the border, the Gongbei, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Qingmao, and Hengqin ports expect to see similar bustling activity, with daily averages of 367,000, 110,000, 106,000, and 100,000 respectively.

In preparation for this influx, the State Administration of Immigration has implemented special measures to streamline border inspection processes during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. They have called for border inspection authorities nationwide to bolster their monitoring of traveler traffic and port operations, ensuring timely updates on incoming and outgoing passenger flows to aid public travel planning.

Additional strategies involve enhancing service provisions and deploying adequate police personnel to minimize wait times for travelers to no more than 30 minutes. The Administration is also coordinating with port inspection teams and local agencies to devise effective arrangements for managing passenger flows and transport support during peak customs clearance periods.

The State Administration of Immigration further advises both Chinese citizens and international travelers to remain alert to changes in traveler volume and customs conditions ahead of their trips. It is essential for travelers to verify the validity of their entry and exit documents and visas before attempting to cross borders.

For Chinese citizens planning to leave the country, it is crucial to familiarize themselves with safety protocols and entry regulations of their destinations, allowing for the reasonable arrangement of travel itineraries. People are encouraged to adopt risk awareness practices and remain vigilant regarding personal safety and property security throughout their travels.

In case of difficulties during customs clearance, assistance is readily available through the National Immigration Service's 12367 service hotline or by reaching out to the immigration control officers on duty at the ports.