NIA expects exits and entries in China to reach 600,000

The National Immigration Administration said on Wednesday that it expects the average daily number of exits and entries during the 2023 Spring Festival holiday to reach 600,000, about two times higher than the same period last year and 32.7 percent higher than the same period in 2019.

The Spring Festival holiday, an occasion when Chinese people traditionally travel home to get family reunions, runs from Jan 21 to 27 this year.

Large international airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport of Guangdong province and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport will maintain a stable passenger flow, said the NIA.

The number of entry or existing passengers in large land ports adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao will continue to increase, it said, adding that it is expected that the peak of passenger flow will be mainly concentrated on January 20, 25, 26 and 27 during the Spring Festival.

Among these ports adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, the average daily number of customs clearances at Gongbei port in Zhuhai is expected to reach 277,000, and the number at Qingmao port in Zhuhai will reach 57,000. The number at Shenzhen's Futian port is expected to reach 42,000.

NIA has made special arrangements to ensure orderly, safe and efficient entry and exit customs clearance at ports during the Spring Festival holiday. The border inspection authorities nationwide have been asked to scientifically forecast and timely release the situation of entry and exit passenger flows at ports to provide a reference for the general public.

The border inspection authorities were also urged to deploy enough police force on duty and fully open all of the inspection channels to restrict the waiting time of Chinese citizens to be within 30 minutes, as well as the safe, smooth and orderly operation of the port.

NIA also reminded the public to pay attention to changes in passenger flow and customs clearances at ports, carefully check whether their documents are valid, and learn about entry and epidemic prevention policies of destination countries and regions, so as to make travel itineraries reasonably.