Starting from May 1, ticket prices of the Haixia, a high-speed passenger liner sailing between Pingtan and Taichung, will go up, marking the end of a 15-month grace period that began with the ship's maiden voyage in late 2011.

An economy cabin ticket will again cost 800 yuan ($130) per person on paper . Adult tickets, student tickets, children tickets and infant tickets will get a discount of 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent and 90 percent, respectively. All passengers who buy round-trip tickets will enjoy another 5 percent discount.

Previously, the price for economy tickets was 500 yuan each.

The first-class cabin ticket will stay the same at 1,200 yuan. There are no discounts for adult tickets or round-trip tickets. But children and infants will get discounts of 40 percent and 90 percent, respectively.

Fujian Haixia High-Speed RORO Shipping Co, owner of the ferry, said it will change the ticket price quarterly based on the market response.

Since its launch on Nov 30, 2011, the Haixia has been playing a crucial role in cross-Straits marine transportation. The liner transported more than 100,000 tourists in 2012.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai