Since its maiden voyage on Nov 30, 2011, the Haixiahao, the fastest high-speed ocean liner, has transported 300,000 passengers between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, according to the Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau.

Pingtan is the closest place to Taiwan on the mainland. It only takes 3 hours from Pingtan to?reach Keelung and 1.5 hours to Hsinchu. As a result,?it has advantages in constructing a “cross-Straits common family” and “one-day life circle.”

After the opening of the Pingtan-Taipei route on Oct 9, 2013, a two-ship operation has been started with the Haixiahao and Rera bringing passengers between Pingtan and Taichung and Pingtan and Taipei, respectively. The service has helped build a cross-Straits living area.

However, Pingtan’s tourism development still faces problems, such as small tourist market scale and inadequate popularity. Fujian Tourism Bureau recently hosted a forum to help strengthen Pingtan’s tourism industry.

Under the guidance of the Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau, Pingtan should strengthen its tourism marketing and promotion by setting up a special marketing group to attract investments. It should also improve its tourism infrastructure; advance its tourism product system; reinforce the reconstruction of traditional scenic spots; and increase the popularity of Pingtan’s duty-free market through some beneficial policies, according to Zheng Weirong, deputy director of the Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau.